Ralph Moreton White an accountant had progressed through the realms of Brisbane's commercial world to become by 1934 manager of the Brisbane Milling Company. Later he was to become general manager of the Queensland Milling Association. This was the milling of wheat to produce flour. He and his wife were well known in Brisbane's elite social scene. Newspaper references abound in social activities involving the couple with political and and other well know business identities. Very heavily involved in the Methodist church R. M. White acted as treasurer at one point in time.
R. M. White's wife Elsie was the grandaughter of John McMaster the well known former politician and Queensland identity of the second half of the 19th. century. John McMaster was the mayor of Brisbane five times throughout his long involvement in civilian life. Elsie Moreton was formerly Elsie Dath whose other grandfather was Robert Dath of the timber industry and sawmill of what we now know as Teneriffe. Elsie grew up in Kent Street, New Farm where the McMaster and Dath families were well known identities. Mary Jane McMaster was the daughter of John McMaster and in her later years lived with her niece Elsie and husband Ralph Moreton White.
In 1934 Ralph and Elsie White commissioned the well known and highly respected architect Eric P. Trewern to design a home for them in Welwyn Crescent, Coorparoo. The home at Welwyn Crescent was not of the usual, Californian, Spanish or Tudor design of Trewern but in the Georgian style. Welwyn Crescent runs along a ridge which today still commands substantial city views to the north. Thongabel the White's residence in 1934 has been joined by a number of prominent architetural designed homes that were built prior to the second world war.
Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1926 - 1954), Sunday 11 February 1934, page 13
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AN UNUSUALLY CHARMING GEORGIAN HOME AT COORPAROO
Situated at Welwyn Crescent, Surrey Hills, Coorparoo, 'Thongabel' commands extensive panoramic views views of the city and surrounding hills.
Of Georgian derivation, this stucco house possesses much in originality and charm of design. In a setting of well kept lawn and colourful garden beds, 'Thongabel' is enhanced by reason of its elevated site, which makes possible the introduction of an attractive stone wall of multi-coloured pastel shades, into which are knit the brick entrance piers and garage.
Thongabel, a charming stucco residence of Georgian Inspiration. The interesting roof lines, well proportioned windows, and entrance porch of classic motif contribute in producing a home of exceptional attractiveness.
Note the stone wall of multi coloured pastel shades, shades, into which is kept the thick piers of the entrance gates. (Eric (Eric P. Trewern, P.R.I.B.A., Architect.)
John McMaster the grandfather of Elie White (nee Dath)
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Friday 29 February 1924, page 2
Second Edition
Late Mr. McMaster
Long, Interesting Career Picturesque Figure Gone
The late Mr. John McMaster, whoso death wns reported in our first edition, had been ailing since last August, and was confined to his bed for the last month. He suffered considerable pain until about a week ago. but was conscious, and conversed with relatives and friends almost to the last. The veteran passed away at the home of his grand-daughter, Mrs. A. M. White, in Kent Street. New Farm, with whom he had resided since the death of his second wife in December, 1922. There were with him in his last moments his daughter, Miss McMaster, and his grand-daughter ( A. M. White) nnd intimate friends of the family. The funeral will leave Mrs. White's residence in Kent street, New Farm, tomorrow, at 10.30 a.m. The remains will be laid to rest in the Nundah cemetery.
BORN A HIGHLANDER.
It would be a long biography which would adequately portray the long, interesting life of the late Mr. John McMaster. He was born in the island of Islay, Argyleshire, in 1830. At an early age he left the island for Helensburgh, near Dunjbarmton, where ho commenced a farming career. He arrived here in the sailing ship William Myers in 1855, and obtained employment on a 4 -acre farm of one of the German missionaries at Nundah, or German station, as it then was called.
THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
It was at this early stage that there stirred into activity that public spiritedness which characterised Mr. McMaster throughout the whole of his life. A school was wanted, and the young Highlander took up the advocacy with such ardour that before long a compromise was arrived at between rival claims from Eagle Farm and German Station. The Nudgee road school resulted. Subsequently Mr. McMaster undertook to raise the £105 required for the building of a school at Nundah, and he carried out his task. Denied education himself, and being unable to speak English as a child, he was determined that his own children and others in this new land should have whatever instruction could be afforded to them.
TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES.
If motorists and others complain of the character of the roads around Brisbane today, what would they have thought of them in those early days? Mr. McMaster had experiences of the route between the present Nundah and tho infant city. On one occasion he set out in a spotless white suit, the pride of his first wife, with a drayload ot pineapples, but finished up in a sorry plight after having been bogged axle deep in mud. Brisbane was not reached that night, although the missionary who accompanied Mr. McMaster endeavoured to pilot him by way of Three Mile Scrub Road, Kelvin Grove way. In passing the missionary pointed out to Mr. McMaster a spot at Albion where Mr. Robert Blane, gardener to Captain Wickliam, (New South Wales Government Resident) was about to build the first house in that then lonely locality.
NEW CHUM "BULLOCKY."
Having accumulated a little money as a farmer on his own account, Mr. McMaster was induced by his brother-in-law, Mr. Thorns, of Caboolture, to invest in a bullock team. His first trip was to Barambah, to which place he took a load of sugar, returning with tallow, encased in sheep's paunches. He received £25 a ton for carrying the sugar, and half that sum for transporting the tallow, and averaged £1 a day. Mr. McMaster never was given to profanity, and he found that he was able to manage that string of bullocks, new chum and all as he was, and Gaelic new chum at that, without resorting to the profanity which has become traditional in connection with bullock driving.
STORE KEEPING DAYS.
In 1879 the young Scotsman commenced business as a grocer and produce merchant, at the corner of Ann and Warner streets. Fortitude Valley. Those were the days of late shopping, especially on Saturday, and Mr. McMaster's shop was the rendovous at which public questions were freely discussed by leading citizens in those days in which the Valley was making its first bid for commercial supremacy. The late Mr. Thos. Finney, his partner, the late Mr. Isles, also the late Mr. Moses Ward, chemist, the late Mr. Samuel Maxwell, master painter, and others regularly gathered there.
ALDERMAN AND M.L.A.
These conversions led up to a request to Mr. McMaster to represent the Valley ward in the Brisbane Municipal Council. That wns acceded to in 1873. Twelve years later, the late Sir Samuel (then Mr.) Griffith asked the storekeeper-alderman to contest the newly created Valley seat in the Legislative Assembly for his party, the Liberals. Mr. McMaster had taken some persuading to enter the council, and he was very reluctant to enter Parliament, because of his lack of education. But Mr. Griffith saw beneath that rugged exterior a genuineness and an ability which would mean much to his party in that particular direction, and so it came about that Mr. McMaster became the first Parliamentary representatives of that part of Brisbane with which he was associated with throughout the remaining of his long life. And the great Liberal statesman's insight proved a correct one, for surely there never was a more conscientious or persistent representative of any seat, Parliamentary or municipal, than that of Mr. McMaster as a member of Parliament and alderman for the Valley.
VALLEY RAILWAYS.
It was John McMaster who foresaw the necessity for a Valley railway, and who fought for it in season and out of season with his dogged Scotch pertinacity until the line was built. It has been reserved for a later generation than those who laughed at the scheme to see what it has meant to the Valley. Before that branch line which now ends at New Farm refinery, was built, the line, of course, wus extended to Sandgate, but political chicanery first took it around through Victoria Park, so as to spite the Valley for not endorsing Mr. Pring, who had accepted the Attorney-Generalship. The late Sir Arthur Palmer wus Premier at the time. Sir Samuel Griffith afterwards put £175,000 on the estimates for the extension of the line Valleywards. That sum was not sufficient to carry the line through from Roma street to the Valley, erecting a substantial station at the central point and completing the long tunnel.It was at the suggestion of Mr. McMaster, therefore, that a temporary station wns built at the central, and the line was pushed on to the Valley end without delay. For 14 years Mr. McMaster .represented the Valley in the Legislative Assembly.
ALDERMANIC ACTIVITIES.
As Mayor of Brisbane, in 1884, Mr. McMaster drove tho first spike of the old original horse tramway system. In 1893 he rendered valuable assistance in administering the flood relief fund. As is generally known, he was a strong advocate of the Valley site for the Town Hull, but that was a scheme in which he was not successful. Nor has he lived to see the completion of the new Town Hall. Neither was he permitted to sec the inauguration of the muli talked of Greater Brisbane scheme. He was defeated at the first election under the new Local Authorities Act, which extended the franchise to the whole of the electors. He then was 90 years of age. and had served two generations of Valley residents in a way in which he had gained the greatest of rewards, the universal respect of his fellow men whether political or municipal friends or foes. That esteem was manifested few years ago by a handsome presentation. Tho second Mrs. McMaster predeceased her husband by several years.
For further information on John McMaster the Wikipedia reference is below.
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