THOMAS, LEWIS (1832 - 1913), pioneer of coal-mining in Queensland, Australia;

Born 1832, at Tal-y-bont, Cardiganshire. He married Ann Morris at Llanfihangel-genau'r-glyn. Emigrating at the age of 27 he worked his way through Victoria to Queensland. In 1866 he cut the first ton of coal from the Bundamba coal-field and opened up the well-known Aberdare colliery, where he worked till 1890, when its output reached between 50,000 and 60,000 tons per annum. Retiring from mining in 1894 he entered Parliament as member for Bundamba and, after being re-elected in 1896, retired from the seat in 1899. In 1902 he was called to the Legislative Council. The community which he helped to establish at Blackstone became the leading centre of Welsh life and culture in Queensland. He died 16 February 1913, and was buried in Ipswich cemetery. He endowed a Lewis Thomas Scholarship, tenable at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, by students from Tal-y-bont and neighbourhood.

Author

• Reverend Professor John Oliver Stephens, (1880 - 1957)

Sources

• Queensland at Home (Brisbane 1905) (Dept. of Agriculture, Brisbane, 1905)
• The History of the United Welsh Church of Blackstone (Brisbane 1933) (Brisbane, 1933)

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Lewis Thomas

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q19879964

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/