Who was our founding father? The great debate

On Tuesday the 12^th of May, at the Maryborough Library, local historians Tony Clift and Councillor George Seymour settled the age old question               

Who was the founding father of Maryborough?



Tony Clift started the debate



Councillor George Seymour arguing for Mr Palmer

Nearly forty people came to hear the two men debate the topic.The men were kept in check by the moderator Dr Sandra Armstrong, a local historian who gained her PHD from University of New England.  

Tony Clift, Dr Sandra Armstrong and Councillor Seymour

George Seymour brought wit and animated bravura to present the facts advocating for Henry Palmer.      

Tony Clift brought in-depth research and a great speaking style to support the case for George Furber.

The audience discovered that Mr Furber and Mr Palmer set up wool stores and wharves opposite each other on the Mary River.  The debaters made it clear that is where the parallels of their lives stopped. Mr Palmer led a genteel life and was instrumental in the establishment of the Botanic Gardens and the School of Arts. In contrast, Mr Furber was a convict’s son who lived and died violently, being murdered at Tinana Creek in 1855.

The audience were each given a ballot paper and had to choose which man was Maryborough’s founding father. The final count was 21 to Mr Palmer and 14 to Mr Furber.

The lively debate was an enjoyable way to find out about identities from our local history. The next debate topic is yet to be finalised.

Do you have any ideas for future local history debate topics?

 Be sure to come along to the next one, you never know what you may find out.

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