Fred Bamford

Frederick William "Fred" Bamford (11 February 1849 – 10 September 1934) was an Australian politician. Bamford was born in Dubbo, New South Wales and educated at Toowoomba, Queensland. He left school at 14 and worked as a carpenter around the Toowoomba area. In September 1871 he married Mary Ann Miller. He and a partner set up a cabinet-making business in Mackay in 1882 but he went bankrupt in 1884. In 1892 Bamford became a publican in Bowen and r... more

Frederick William "Fred" Bamford (11 February 1849 – 10 September 1934) was an Australian politician. Bamford was born in Dubbo, New South Wales and educated at Toowoomba, Queensland. He left school at 14 and worked as a carpenter around the Toowoomba area. In September 1871 he married Mary Ann Miller. He and a partner set up a cabinet-making business in Mackay in 1882 but he went bankrupt in 1884. In 1892 Bamford became a publican in Bowen and ran unsuccessfully for the seat of Bowen in the Queensland Legislative Assembly in December 1895 and March 1899. He was elected to the Bowen municipal council in 1897 and was elected mayor in 1898. Bamford narrowly won the seat of Australian House of Representatives Herbert at the 1901 election as the Australian Labor Party candidate, campaigning specifically against the employment of Kanakas in the North Queensland sugar cane fields. In parliament, he spoke frequently in support of the White Australia policy and subsidies and protection for... less