Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Lot 5308    SESSION 17 - 11.30AM FRIDAY 16 APRIL    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Singles

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $7,000

THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE, Knights Grand Cross (GCMG) mantle of Saxon blue lined with scarlet silk tied with cords of blue and scarlet silk and gold, with large size (235mm) attached bullion embroidered GCMG Star, inside is the label of the maker, `Wilkinson & Son / Late / John Hunter / Tailors & Robe Makers / To His Majesty / 84 Maddox Street / Regent Street / London’, and on the same label is the name, `Sir Robert G. W. Herbert GCB. GCMG’. Some staining marks on lower half inside and outside of mantle, some stitching loose on centre band of Star, otherwise very fine and scarce.

Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert GCB was the first Premier of Queensland. Born at Brighton, England on 12 June 1831, the only son of the Honourable Algernon Herbert, a younger son of the first Earl of Carnarvon. Educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford he won a Balliol scholarship in 1849 and then the Hertford and Ireland scholarships. He won the Latin verse prize in 1852, graduated with second class final honours from the classical school, was elected Fellow of All Souls in 1854 and was Eldon law scholar. He was private secretary to William Ewart Gladstone in 1855 and was called to the bar of the Inner Temple in 1858. Herbert arrived at Brisbane on 10 December 1859 as private secretary to Sir George Ferguson Bowen who was appointed first governor of the colony of Queensland. Immediately after arriving, he was appointed Colonial Secretary and with the governor and others formed an executive council. He was appointed Premier of Queensland in December 1859 and at the first election held in early 1860 was returned unopposed. Herbert continued as Premier of Queensland until February 1866, proving himself to be a good leader with the Queensland parliament, during his tenure, being the most stable and functional of all those in the colonies. In February 1866 in the wake of some colonial financial difficulties he resigned. The subsequent premier, Arthur Macalister served as premier only until 20 July 1866 and then, at the request of the governor, Herbert formed a temporary ministry for three weeks until Macalister returned. Immediately after, Herbert returned to England and shortly after was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trade. In 1870 he was appointed Assistant Under-Secretary for the Colonies and in 1871 became permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies holding the position for twenty one years. He left the colonial office in 1892 but did return for a few months at the request of Joseph Chamberlain. From 1893-1896 he was Agent-General for Tasmania and worked actively towards the formation of the British Empire League. He held the honorary office of High Sheriff of the County of London in 1899. He was also Director of Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company and as well, Knight (First Class) of the Order of the Crown of Johore. He was appointed Chairman of the Tariff Commission in December 1903 and on 6 May 1905 he died at Ickleton. During his time in Queensland, Herbert was accompanied by his companion, John Bramston who he had first met at Balliol College. The pair shared rooms there and later in London and when Herbert was Premier, Bramston was his Attorney-General. During their time in Queensland they created a farm and called the farmhouse, Herston, being a combination of their surnames. The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital now occupies the site. The name was also given to the Brisbane suburb of Herston. Robert Herbert was conferred with a KCB in 1882, in 1892 a GCB and in this same year was appointed Chancellor of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG). A unique item of great Australian colonial historical significance owned by the first Premier of Queensland. (A similar robe to an unknown recipient was sold at Andreas Thies Auction - 209 (lot 188) realising 11,000 euros.)