Chandler, John Beals, KBE
Personal
Birth Date:
21 February 1887 (Bunwell, Norfolk)
Death Date:
19 January 1962 (St Lucia, Queensland)
Parents:
John Chandler and Mary Ann (nee Green)
Family:
Lydia Isabel Parish on 12 February 1912, 4 sons, 1 daughter
Education:
Educated in Bunwell, England
Religion:
Church of England
Career
Worked in Mossman canefields (2 years); Drove horse and cart for Queensland Drug Company then became a manufacturer's agent; Entered electrical trading, 1913; Treasurer, RACQ, 1939 to 1940; Chairman of Directors, Freehold Properties Pty Ltd; Director, Broadcasters (Aust) Pty Ltd, Brisbane and Rockhampton-Maryborough, Gold Radio (Toowoomba); Built and operated first Brisbane commercial broadcasting station, 4BC, 1930; 4BK, 1931; 4BH, 1932; Managing Director, Gloria Light Co. Pty Ltd, Melbourne; Managing Director, John Martin Pty Ltd, Sydney; Established Chandlers Pty Ltd, radio and appliance dealers, 1925, Chairman of Directors Brisbane and Managing Director, Sydney
Local Government Service:
Lord Mayor of Brisbane, 1940 to 1952. Taringa Shire Council, 1925
Parliamentary Representation
| House | Party | Electorate | From | To | Elected/Departure Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly | QPP | Hamilton | 26 Oct 1943 | 2 May 1947 | Did not contest |
| Assembly | IND | Hamilton | 9 Oct 1943 | 26 Oct 1943 |
Parliamentary Service
| Description | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Leader, Queensland People's Party | 26 Oct 1943 | 7 Mar 1946 |
Additional Information
Notes:
Interests included motoring and orchid culture. Sir John arrived penniless in Queensland in 1907 as an assisted migrant. President, Electrical Federation, Queensland branch, 1928-1929. Founder, Queensland Anti-Communist Freedom League, 1949. President, Brisbane Chamber of Commerce; Queensland Patriotic and Australian Comforts Fund during WWII; and Australian Federation of Broadcasting Stations. Patron, Queensland Orchid Society; Member, Rotary Club of Brisbane; and Young Men's Christian Association. Sir John founded the Queensland People's Party and was its leader from 26 Oct 1943 to 7 Mar 1946. The Queensland People's Party later became the Queensland division of the Liberal Party. As Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Sir John was entitled to be paid however he decided not to take the salary but put it back into the city coffers. One of the greatest and most lasting monuments to Sir John is Gympie Road, Chermside. Abuse was levelled at Sir John by the ratepayers when he first suggested there should be a four-lane highway at the entrance to the city and the necessary resumptions were made. Sir John's funeral was held on 22 Jan 1962 at St John's Cathedral. The Brisbane suburb of Chandler was named in his honour. As he built and operated Brisbane's first commercial broadcasting station, 4BC, the 'BC' stands for Beals Chandler
Sources:
Image courtesy of the John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Neg: 555863; Laverty, John, 'Chandler, Sir John Beals (1887–1962)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/chandler-sir-john-beals-9724; Queensland Parliamentary Debates, Motion of Condolence, Second session of the 36th parliament, V.232, pp.2072-2075 (Brisbane, Qld: Government Printer); Courier-Mail, 'Sir John Chandler in last city drive', 23 Jan 1962; Courier-Mail, 'Death of Sir John Chandler. Lord Mayor of Brisbane 1940-52', 20 Jan 1962, pp. 1, 3; Blanch, K, The Sunday Mail, 'When all ears were tuned to the radio', 7 May 1989, p. 45; Telegraph, 'Citizen of the week', 8 Jul 1950; Alexander, JA, Who's Who in Australia, XVIth ediction, 1959, p. 167 (Melbourne, Vic: Colorgravure Publications, The Herald)
[Last Modified: Monday, 05 June 2017]