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Was born at Glasgow on 28
December 1851, the second son of John Philp and his wife, Mary Ann Wiley.
His father was the proprietor of a lime kiln at Glasgow. Robert Philp was
educated at the Anderston Presbyterian Church School, and in 1862 his
father emigrated with his family to Queensland, arriving at Brisbane on 6
August. The boy was sent to the national school and in November 1863
entered the service of Bright Brothers, afterwards Gibbs Bright and
Company. He remained with them for 11 years and was then employed by James
Burns (q.v.). In January 1875 he was sent to Townsville, then a very small
place. While there he took part in the development of the mining industry
in Queensland, but his main interest lay in the building up of the
business in which he became a partner under the well-known name of Burns
Philp and Company. As agents dealing with the wool, wood and gold from the
inland country the business became very prosperous, and gradually got
together a large fleet of steamers. The management at Sydney was in the
hands of James Burns, while Philp was in control at Townsville. He became
a member of the town council, in December 1885 was asked to become a
candidate for the newly-formed electorate of Musgrave, was duly elected
early in 1886, and shortly afterwards removed to Brisbane. As a
representative of a North Queensland electorate he made his first speech
in favour of the forming of a new colony there. In October 1893 he reached
cabinet rank as secretary for mines in the H. M. Nelson (q.v.) ministry,
and in April 1898 he became treasurer and secretary for mines in the T. J.
Byrnes (q.v.) ministry. When Byrnes died in September 1898, Philp was
given the same positions in the succeeding J. R. Dickson (q.v.) ministry.
This was defeated on 1 December 1899, but the Labour ministry which took
its place lasted less than a week. Philp had been elected leader of the
opposition, and on 7 December formed a ministry, taking the portfolios of
premier, treasurer, and secretary for mines. He showed himself to be an
excellent administrator and won the respect of both sides of the house.
The 1900 session produced no fewer than 34 acts of parliament including
several railway acts, a factories and shops act, and others dealing with
the amendment of the land laws. In 1901 Philp paid a visit to South Africa
during the recess to see his son who had contracted enteric fever while
with the Australian forces. On his return he had to face the difficulties
arising from a four years drought, during which the sheep in the state
were reduced from 21,000,000 to 7,000,000. Various ameliorative measures
were passed by the government to assist the graziers, but though an
improvement in the mining industry helped matters to some extent, nothing
could stop the heavy falling off in revenue and consequent deficits. The
coming of federation, of which Philp had been a consistent advocate, was
not at first helpful to Queensland, and Philp had many difficulties to
contend with. He pursued a policy of economical and careful administration
and in an endeavour to balance the budget brought in an income tax, the
first direct taxation to be imposed in Queensland. On 8 September 1903,
being deserted by some of his supporters, he was able to carry a bill to
amend the stamp act by only two votes, and the government resigned. He was
in opposition until November 1907 when he was asked to form a new ministry
on the defeat of W. Kidston (q.v.). But the Labour party held the balance
of power and Philp was almost at once defeated. A few months later, after
an election, a coalition was made between the Philp and Kidston parties,
but Philp declined to accept office. Practically the effect was that his
party was amalgamated with Kidston's but he felt that a three party system
was unworkable, and henceforth worked loyally for Kidston as a private
member and was never in office again. In August 1912 a Philp scholarship
was founded at the newly formed university of Queensland by public
subscription as a permanent memorial of the work Philp had done for
Queensland. In the same year he visited Europe and while in Edinburgh his
portrait, now in the national gallery at Brisbane, was painted by Sir
James Guthrie. After his return to Queensland Philp took up his duties as
a private member again and in January 1915 was made a K.C.M.G. In the
following May the Labour party was successful at the general election and
Philp was defeated by something under 200 votes. He had represented his
electorate for 27 years. He devoted himself to business pursuits, but in
1920 formed one of a delegation sent to England asking for the appointment
of a governor of Queensland. Shortly after the arrival of the delegation
Sir Michael Nathan was appointed to the position. This was Philp's last
act of public service and he died following an operation on 17 June 1922.
He had married (1) Miss Campbell, (2) Miss Munro, who survived him with
his two sons and five daughters.
Philp was modest, shrewd
and amiable. He was a successful business man, and as a politician was
always thinking first of his country. He did excellent work in the
development of Queensland. |
