Charles Midson


Charles William Midson was a builder and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Early years

Midson was born in London, England, to parents James Midson and his wife Elizabeth Catherine. After beginning his working career as an apprentice builder with his father in England he arrived in Victoria in 1853 where he worked the goldfields in Indigo, Ovens and Snowy River. He returned to England in 1855 but was back in Australia the following year working as a builder in New South Wales before travelling to Brisbane in 1860 where he won large government and commercial building contracts including the Port Office Hotel, Hunter's Boot Factory, White's Hotel, and the Courier Building. Midson later became a director of the Imperial Deposit Bank and Watertown Brick Company and at the time of his death owned the Woolloongabba Glassworks.

Political career

Midson was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, holding the seat of South Brisbane from 1893 until his defeat at the 1896 election. He had also served as an alderman on the South Brisbane Municipal Council.

Personal life

In 1864 Midson married Mary Hurley Moran and together had four sons and three daughters. Midson died of appendicitis in April 1903 and as per his request a private funeral was held, moving from his former residence in Grey Street, South Brisbane, to the South Brisbane Cemetery.