It is well known that Beaudesert was a ‘private town’ when the first town blocks were sold in 1874.
Ernest White cut the blocks from Beaudesert Station which were not gazetted as a town, an oversight which gave rise to a court case in 1899 on whether Beaudesert was a township or still country land.
Michael Enright, one of Beaudesert’s earliest businessmen, appealed against a ruling by the then Lands Commissioner Mr Watts.
The Commissioner had rejected Mr Enright’s application for a certificate that the requisite conditions had been fulfilled to entitle him to a deed of grant of agricultural farm No 607, under section 73 of the Crown lands Act, 1894.
Mr Enright maintained that though he lived in Beaudesert, the land was country lands—never having been proclaimed a town.
The Lands Commissioner said that the selector (Enright) would be regarded as having lived in the town, although it was not proclaimed.
The court ruled that Mr Enright’s selection being within 15 miles from where he resided, he was entitled to count his residence as being on the selection as long as he resided on country lands.
He stated that as far as he could ascertain the township was on country land, never having been proclaimed as a town or suburban. However, the court desired to place on record the necessity of the Government proclaiming the township of Beaudesert in order to avoid any future complication.
So, when did Beaudesert become a town?
Research will certainly uncover the details, however, in this year in which we celebrate the 150th of the auction of the first town blocks, it is a question worthy of a further look.
