Frank Ivory (1871 -1957) a local athlete of distinction

Allan Godbold, Great Nephew of Frank Ivory

On the 11^th of September, the Maryborough Library was lucky enough to be visited by Murray Bird. In his recent book Athenians and the Red Invincibles Murray devotes a chapter expounding the skills of Frank Ivory the “Aussie Rules Man”.  The diverse skills and the inspired life of this local athlete were only revealed after talking to Frank’s great nephew Allan Godbold, who attended the talk.

“I lived around Gayndah for a lot of my life” Allan started. “I was a telegram boy who worked for Australia Post, I worked my way up and was then transferred to Head Office of Australia Post in Melbourne”. “I did pretty well for myself considering I started as a telegram boy” he joked.

 It was not until he retired in 1970 and started researching that he found out that he was closely related to one of the area’s best sportspeople. “Because I had more time, I started researching my family history and found I was related to Frank Ivory.  I am his great nephew. I then did a full history of him and worked on this project with my cousin Robert Godbold” Allan explained. “When we were younger, I never knew I had Aboriginal heritage. I just thought everyone had darker skin because they worked outside. I guess as a kid you don’t think about it much” he said.

Allan’s research has found that Frank’s father was  Francis Jeffrey Ivory (1831 – 1896) the son of Lord James Ivory (1792 – 1866) and was married to Anne Laurie. Lord James was Scotland’s Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions (e.g. the High Court governing Mercantile Law – not criminal) some of his rulings are still recognised today. 

Frank’s mother was from the Gureng-Gureng tribal clan of Aborigines and was known as Caroline. Allan said “I am still searching for her grave site but have not been able to find it yet” .

Can you help Allan find Caroline’s grave site?

He knows more about Frank’s father. “Francis Jeffrey Ivory and his brother Alexander bought Eidsvold station (as a sheep run) from the original owners the Archer Bros in the 1860’s. Francis went on to become a member of the Queensland legislative assembly, eventually performing the duties of Sargent-at-Arms”, Allan claims.

Francis Jeffrey and Caroline had three children.

-Jessie Ivory (1868 – 1941) (Allan’s Grandmother)

-Frank Ivory (1871 – 1957)

-William Ivory (1873-1965)

Frank Ivory as a young man

Allan discovered that Frank attended The Maryborough Grammar School from 1885 to 1889, after completing his primary education in Eidsvold. “He was probably the first Indigenous person to complete a secondary education at a Grammar School” claims Allan.

“He was a renowned and respected sportsperson. His feats both as a student and in general fields of athletics and football were widely written about in the press of the day” claims Allan. Allan has found he excelled at:
Field and Track Events – sprint and distances, the high jump and rowing
Cricket – both as a batsman and a bowler
Football – Australian Rules and Rugby Union

“It was at Rugby Union where Frank drew the most attention and accolades. He was the first footballer of Aboriginal descent to play representative for his state – 1893- Queensland verses New South Wales” Allan continues.

Have you ever heard of Frank? Did you know he attended school in Maryborough?

Allan said,"Sports writer Jack Pollard, in his book Australian Rugby the Game, The Players referred glowingly to Frank’s football prowess. Frank has also been installed as a member of Queensland’s Rugby Union Hall of Fame" .

Allan discovered that Frank was also a Sports Administrator, Businessman and Community member.



Frank Ivory's Saddlery in Kent Street, Maryborough

“He had a shot at running a saddle and harness business in Kent Street, Maryborough “Allan continues. “He went bankrupt in this venture and shortly thereafter left Maryborough for Mount Morgan,  in 1896 “.

An article Allan found in the paper about Frank Ivory's farewell function.

Allan's research found that at a farewell function for him at the Queens Hotel Frank was presented with a purse containing 25 sovereigns. “This is an indication of the esteem in which he was held by his friends in Maryborough” Allan claims.  Frank continued to be involved with football and cricket in the Rockhampton and Central Queensland area, until he suddenly withdrew from all sport involvement in about 1903/04.



Frank Ivory in his later years.

“He took on work in the beef cattle industry in Mount Perry district. Frank spent the rest of his life working for the Provence family, firstly at their Wombah Stations and thereafter at their Rosslyn property”, Allan said.

“A man who knew Frank well during his Mt Perry life a Mr Charles Pollock, of Camelot Station, says that he never spoke about his renowned sporting career. In fact, Mr Pollock thought that Frank had always been a cattleman”.

Allan hopes to one year present the Frank Ivory medal in honour of his Great Uncle. This medal is presented in the Indigenous round of Rugby Union in recognition of his great achievements.

He is buried in Mt Perry Cemetery.

Notes and pictures about Frank Ivory published with consent from Allan Godbold. This research was conducted with help from Robert Godbold. Information sourced from The Maryborough Chronicle;The Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser and The Rockhampton Bulletin

Paul Nicholls has published an article on Frank Ivory June 2020 Remembering the Maryborough marvel, Frank Ivory:The extraordinary life and times of the first Indigenous star of two football codes

Tags #Frasercoastlibraries #Maryborough #Qldheritagetourism #Qldrugbyunion #Qldafl