Rockhampton and Fitzroy River during 1890 flood

Robert Philp, businessman and politician, born Glasgow Scotland, arrived Qld 1862. 1874 joined merchant company of James Burn in Townsville, made partner in 1876. After entering state politics in 1886 as member for Musgrave he became Premier of Queensland (1899-1903, 1907-08), as a conservative. He was a contributor in the establishment of the University of Queensland