Albert John Hockings


Albert John Hockings was a politician in Queensland, before the Federation of Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and an alderman and mayor of the Brisbane Town Council.

Personal life

Albert John Hockings was the son of Thomas Hockings and Jane Thorton. He was baptised at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, England on 16 April 1826.
In 1841 his parents Thomas and Jane Hockings immigrated to Australia on William Jardine accompanied by their sons Albert and Henry.
Albert John Hockings married Elizabeth Bailey in Brisbane on 17 August 1851. Together they had a number of children:
Albert John Hockings died in Brisbane on 11 Nov 1890. His wife Elizabeth died in Brisbane on 8 Sept 1907. They are buried together in South Brisbane Cemetery.

Business life

Albert John Hockings was a seedsman. He was an importer and merchant of seeds, plants and agricultural implements.
In 1845–46 he undertook a trading expedition on the brigantine Sarah Wilson to a number of South Pacific Islands, including Auckland, Tahiti, Samoa, and Tonga. In May 1861, he delivered a public lecture on the cruise at the Mechanics Institute, South Brisbane.
He published a number of books on gardening including:The flower garden in Queensland : containing concise and practical instructions on the cultivation of the flower garden, and the management of pot plants in Australia in 1875Queensland garden manual : containing concise directions for the cultivation of the garden, orchard, and farm in Queensland in 1875
  • a revised edition of Queensland garden manual : containing concise directions for the cultivation of the garden orchard and farm in Queensland in 1888 with additional material entitled ''To which are added sericulture, and the cultivation of sugar, coffee, tea, and numerous other tropical plants and fruit trees especially adopted to the climate and soil of Queensland''

Public life

Albert John Hockings was an alderman of the Brisbane Municipal Council in 1859–60 and 1864–67. He was mayor in 1865 and 1867.
He served on the following committees:
  • Finance Committee 1860, 1865
  • Legislative Committee 1864
  • Incorporation Committee 1864
  • Improvement Committee 1866, 1867
  • Bridge Committee 1866, 1867
Hockings stood for election to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the electoral district of Town of South Brisbane in the 1860 Queensland colonial election, but was defeated by his opponent Henry Richards by 72 votes to 18.
However, on 28 April 1877, George Edmondstone, member for Wickham, resigned. John Hockings won the resulting by-election on 12 May 1877. He held the seat until 25 November 1878.
He was one of the original trustees of South Brisbane Cemetery.