Joseph Fleming (1811-1891)

Pastoralist, businessman, politician: Joseph Fleming was born 6th January 1811 near Windsor, New South Wales, the son of Australian-born Henry Fleming and his wife Elizabeth (nee Hall). 

Fleming was educated in Sydney before taking up farming, with his father, on the MacDonald River.  In 1836 Fleming, along with his uncles, took up the Mundowie run on the Liverpool Plains.  In 1842, Fleming was appointed the chief constable of Wollombi and in 1844 the inspector of distilleries, holding both positions until 1846.  He acquired Orrabar, New England, in 1846.  It was at Orrabar, in 1839, that he had led the capture of the bushranger Gentleman Dick and his gang.  He also was involved in collection of the 1841 census at Orrabar.  

By September 1850, Fleming had established himself at Ipswich, having purchased land on the Bundamba Creek for a boiling-down works, sawmill, and flour-mill, calling it Bremer Mills.  He purchased a partnership in a steamer, the Bremer, and by February 1851 had eight Maranoa runs covering 128,000 acres.

Joseph married Phoebe McGinniss, of Wilberforce, on 29th April 1831.  Phoebe died on the 24th March 1853, after giving birth to a stillborn son, Daniel.  Mother and son were interred at the Ipswich General Cemetery.  She was survived by five daughters, of their nine children.  Fleming married his second wife, Mary Everitt at Windsor.  Mary accompanied Joseph to Ipswich, however left him in November 1859, returning to Sydney.  

In 1859, Fleming was appointed a Magistrate in Ipswich, the same year his fortunes started declining, owing the Bank of Australia £35,948.  Despite his financial difficulties, Fleming served in the first Queensland Parliament from 9th July 1860 until his retirement (due to bankruptcy) on the 3rd November 1862.  He was re-elected for the seat of West Moreton at a by-election, serving from 11th September 1866 to 2nd July 1867.  It is claimed that throughout his time in the Legislative Assembly, he never spoke.

After leaving parliament for the second time, Fleming confined himself to store-keeping at Ipswich and Roma.  He died, an undischarged bankrupt, at Ipswich on 23rd December 1891 and was buried with his first wife Phoebe, their son Daniel, and adult daughter Caroline Smith in the Fleming Crypt at Ipswich General Cemetery.