As Queensland did not begin as a Crown colony, there was no financial support from England.
The separation was not amicable, and when New South Wales closed off the books the new Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen, found only 7½d. in the Treasury coffers.
The Governor wrote to his friend in England, the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, the Right Honourable Chichester Fortesque, on 6 June 1860:
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'At the first start of all other Colonies, the Governor has been assisted by a nominated Council of experienced officials; he has been supported by an armed force; and he has been authorised to draw, at least at the beginning, on the Imperial Treasury for the expenses of the public service. But I was an autocrat; the sole source of authority here, without a single soldier, and without a single shilling. There was no organised force of any kind on my arrival, though I have now, by dint of exertion and influence, got up a respectable police on the Irish model, and a very creditable corps of Volunteers. And as to money wherewith to carry on the Government, I started with just 7½d. in the Treasury. A thief, supposing, I fancy, that I should have been furnished with some funds for the outfit—so to speak—of the new State, broke into the Treasury a few nights after my arrival, and carried off the 7½d. mentioned. However, I borrowed money from the banks until our revenue came in, and our estimates already show (after paying back the sums borrowed) a considerable balance in excess of the proposed expenditure for the year.' |
The sudden shortfall in Queensland Treasury’s consolidated account was noted in The North Australian, Ipswich and General Advertiser on Tuesday 27 December 1859. The Brisbane correspondent covering the news for Saturday 24 December reported the following item:
'Some burglar broke open the room in the late Government Resident’s official premises, but now used as the Treasury Office, and stole a cash-box which only contained seven pence in coppers. The man is a fool as well as a rogue, or he would have waited a better time, until some revenue was collected.'
The revenue received by the new colony for 1860 was ₤178,589.