August 1946 
The Queensland Naturalist 
27 
George Watkins, Hon. Secretary, F. Manson Bailey, Dr. 
A. J. Turner, Henry Tryon, Dr. J. F. Shirley, Rowland 
Illidge, J. II. Sirarnonds and J. R. Sankey. The last five 
afterwards joined the present Club. The first field meet- 
ing took place at the Acclimatisation Gardens, Brisbane. 
Under a recent date, Mr. J. II. Simmonds wrote: — 
“The original idea was to have different sections . . . but 
owing to the absence of other leaders and the enthusiasm 
of Mr. F. M. Bailey, it soom became almost entirely 
botanical.” The section started off with great energy, 
and during the first nine months of its existence, three 
evening meetings and nineteen field excursions were held, 
hut interest seems to have gradually waned. At the last 
excursion (to Eumundi) in the Easter of 1894 only three 
members were present. 
The name of F. M. Bailey brings up memories of one 
of the most outstanding figures in the history of science in 
Queensland. Born in London in 1827, he must have had 
botany in his blood, both his grandfather and father having 
been lovers of nature. In search of a wider field, his 
father, John Bailey, set out for Australia in 1838 and 
arrived at Holdfast Bay, South Australia, on 22nd March, 
1839, bringing young Frederick Manson Bailey with him. 
John Bailey was appointed Government Botanist and laid 
out the first botanical gardens in Adelaide. Seventy-eight 
years afterwards John’s grandson, John F. Bailey, who 
was Director of the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, also 
became Director of the Adelaide Gardens. 
F. M. Bailey came to Brisbane in 1861, and in 1875 
was made a member of a Boai’d appointed by the Govern- 
ment to inquire into the cause of diseases affecting live- 
stock and plants. He was next placed in charge of the 
botanical section of the Queensland Museum, and in 1881 
was appointed Colonial (now Government) Botanist. 
Indefatigable in his love for botany, he did an immense 
amount of w'ork in that sphere and published much valu- 
able matter, his Queensland Flora being monumental. 
With a world-wide reputation, he did not receive from the 
Government the recognition to which he was entitled. Dur- 
ing a period of retrenchment the office of Botanist was 
abolished, but Mr. Bailey continued to discharge his duties 
cheerfullly, saying the work must go on whether he was 
paid for it or not. The Government, yielding to public 
pressure, afterwards re-appointed him to the position, but 
at a salary about equal to that of an unskilled workman. 
