Electoral rolls are the nearest thing Australians have to census records, and
hence they are both extremely important, and useful for local, family and social
historians. The population of Queensland in 1905 was estimated at 528,048
(290,206 males and 237,842 females).The roll for Queensland in 1905 totals
over 3400 pages in two volumes. Entries are arranged alphabetically by district
you will find the details of over 100,000 men who resided in Queensland in this
era, and who were qualified (and registered) to vote.
Were they qualified to vote? Under the New South Wales Electoral Act
of 1858, any male, 21 years and over, whether natural born or naturalised could
enrol to vote if he satisfied certain qualifications regarding residence,
property or academic, or in the case of the gold field electoral district, if he
held a miner's right or licence for six months. Persons in naval or military
service or in the Police Force, as well as Clerks of Petty Sessions and paid
Police Magistrates were ineligible to vote.
Women in Queensland were given the right to vote in 1905, but they first got
to do so in May 1907. So this Electoral Roll contains only men
The following information is included for many (but not all) entries:
- Christian name and surname
- Qualification (residence, freehold, leasehold or householder)
- Situation or residence or property
- Age
- Place of abode
- Occupation
- Particulars of qualification
- Date when claim received by electoral registrar
- Polling district
High quality scanned images of the whole of the original book. This CD has
been bookmarked for easy navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed,
enlarged and printed out if required.
