Charles Lilley

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Sir Charles Lilley (May 27, 1830 - August 20, 1897) was a former Premier and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He had a significant influence on the form and spirit of state education in colonial Queensland which lasted well into the twentieth century.

Lilley was born at Newcastle on Tyne, England, the son of Thomas Lilley. He was educated at University College, London and, intending to study law, became articled to a solicitor. He gave this up, enlisted in the army and, while stationed at Preston, lectured on temperance and industry. This brought him into disfavour with his superior officers. Friends purchased his honourable discharge. He remained at Preston and worked on the committee that established the Preston Free Library.

He arrived at Sydney on 4 July 1856. Soon afterwards he travelled to Brisbane, joined the Crown Solicitor's Office, and finished his law degree. Thereafter, he took up journalism, acquired an interest in the Moreton Bay Courier (later the Brisbane Courier), and for two years was its editor. He was prominent in the movement for separation from New South Wales. After Queensland separated, Lilley was elected to that state's first Legislative Assembly by a majority of only three votes. Lilley held his seat for the remainder of his parliamentary career.

He was called to the bar in 1861. In September 1865 he succeeded John Bramston as Attorney-General in the first Herbert ministry, and held the same position in the Macalister ministry which succeeded it. On 7 August 1866 he was again appointed Attorney-General for a second term before the ministry was defeated in August 1867. On 25 November 1868 Lilley became Premier of Queensland and served concurrently as Attorney-General, and then Colonial Secretary, for part of his premiership. His most important work as Premier was the introduction of free education in January 1870. Queensland was the first of the Australian colonies to adopt this principle.

As a protest against the monopoly of the A.S.N. Company Lilley ordered three vessels to be constructed for the Queensland government at Sydney. One, the ship Governor Blackall, was built, and as a result the A.S.N. Company reduced its charges. Lilley, however, had acted without reference to his colleagues was censured by all but one of his followers. In May 1870 his party was defeated at the polls, the Palmer ministry succeeding Lilley's government. He was elected leader of the opposition. In January 1874, Macalister carried a vote of no confidence in the Government, and offered to stand aside so that Lilley could become Premier. He declined office of any kind, but shortly afterwards accepted the position of acting judge of the Supreme Court. He became a puisne judge in July 1874, and in 1879 succeeded Sir James Cockle as Chief Justice.

Lilley's strong interest in education was a significant factor in the establishment of Brisbane Grammar School. In 1891 he was chairman of a commission investigating the establishment of a university in Brisbane. In 1893, Lilley resigned his position as Chief Justice after Sir Thomas McIlwraith questioned publicly some of Lilley's financial transactions, and stood unsuccessfully against McIlwraith in the electorate of Brisbane North.

He had a severe illness in 1896 and died in 1897. Lilley married in 1858 S J Jeays and was survived by a large family including several sons. He was knighted in 1881.

The Federal electorate of Lilley is named after him.

There is a statue of Sir Charles Lilley at the Speakers' Corner in King George Square in Brisbane.