Peter Balderston
Macgregor
Male
Australia
1866-04-09
Helidon, Queensland, Australia
1936-04-10
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
From The Courier Mail (Brisbane), 11 April 1936
Leader of Bar – Peter Macgregor passes – Brilliant career
Death removed from Queensland a notable lawyer, a widely-known and beloved citizen and a kindly personality, when Peter Balderston Macgregor, K.C., leader of the Queensland Bar, died at his home in Bowen Terrace, New Farm, early yesterday morning, after a brief illness. For some years he had not been in the best of health, and his appearances in Court had been few, but he carried on practice in his chambers to the end of last year. About a fortnight ago he became ill, and his condition became serious. He celebrated his 70th birthday on Thursday, and passed away a few hours after completing the “allotted span” of three score and ten years. The funeral, which will be private, will take place to the Crematorium this morning.
Brilliant scholastic career
Mr Macgregor was a native of Helidon, and early in his life his parents went to Ipswich, where he received his elementary education at the East Ipswich State School. Later he attended the Ipswich Grammar School, where he won the Bell, Thorn and Trustees’ scholarships, and passed the junior and senior examinations of the Sydney University. He became dux of the school, and won a scholarship to Oxford University, where he entered Balliol College and graduated B.A. in 1888.
Returning to Queensland he entered the legal office of Lilley and O’Sullivan, and in June 1891, was appointed associate to Sir Charles Lilley, then Chief Justice of Queensland, remaining in this position until Sir Charles retired from office in February 1893. Mr Macgregor then became associate to Sir Samuel Griffith, one of the founders of the Australian Constitution, when Sir Samuel became Chief Justice of Queensland. In the following May he commenced practice as a barrister, having been admitted to the Bar in 1891.
In a long and distinguished career Mr Macgregor acted as District Court Judge in 1900 at Maryborough and Gympie, and in 1901 at Townsville, Hughenden, Cloncurry and Winton. For three months from February 3, 1932, he was Acting Judge of the Supreme Court in the North. He was appointed a King’s Counsel (K.C.) in June 1934, being the first since the late Mr Justice Stumm. On the appointment of the late Mr Justice Woolcock to the Supreme Court Bench, Mr Macgregor became leader of the Queensland Bar in the sense that he was the senior practising member.
Public and university work
Mr Macgregor was a member of the Queensland Club, and had been president of the Women’s College Council since its inception in 1914 until a few months ago, when he resigned on account of failing health. He was also actively interested in other spheres of university work. In 1915, he was elected nationalist member for Merthyr in the Legislative Assembly, and represented the electorate for three years.
In his younger days Mr Macgregor was a lawn tennis player of considerable ability, and in 1892 he won the Queensland singles championship, and for several years was captain of interstate tennis teams. He was also fond of cricket, and until recent years used to take part in the annual match between barristers and solicitors.
He leaves a widow [née Mabel Newton], two sons – Dr Peter Newton Macgregor of Vulture Street, East Brisbane, and Mr Richard Alexander Macgregor, of Armidale, New South Wales, who is connected with broadcasting – and two daughters Mrs Lindsay Cameron [née Kathleen Mabel Macgregor], of Caledonia pastoral property, Dalveen, near Stanthorpe, and Miss Frances Mary Macgregor, the well-known actress, who has just returned from a tour. Mrs Mabel Macgregor is a daughter of the late Mr Richard Newton, of Coorparool, who was the first sugar grower in the Cleveland district.
1888 - 1899
1
20
11
1892 - Queensland Championships (Amateur)
Round 1
George Ingelow Kilgour 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
6-4
4-6
7-5
0-6
7-5
Round 1
Dr Ernest Ludlow Newman 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
6-4
6-4
6-2
Round 1
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
bye
Quarterfinals
Edward Robert Crouch 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
w.o.
Round 1
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
bye
Quarterfinals
Dr. Samuel Henry Hughes 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
3-6
6-1
6-3
6-1
Round 1
Robert Russell Love 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
6-1
6-3
6-0
Round 1
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
F.H. Ayres
7-5
6-2
4-6
6-1
Semifinals
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
H.M. Robinson
6-3
6-4
2-6
6-4
Final
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
Ernest John Gilligan
8-10
6-4
6-3
6-4
Challenge Round
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
Arthur Fielder Taylor
w.o.
Round 1
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
bye
Quarterfinals
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
Arthur Pixley
6-0
6-2
6-0
Semifinals
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
Arnold Edward Crossman
6-3
6-4
2-6
6-4
Final
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
Ernest John Gilligan
5-7
8-6
11-9
6-1
Challenge Round
Arthur Fielder Taylor 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
6-3
6-4
4-6
5-6
6-2
Round 1
Peter Balderston Macgregor 1 *
Ernest John Gilligan
3-6
6-4
6-0
3-6
6-2
Final
Arthur Fielder Taylor 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
7-5
7-5
2-6
6-3
Round 1
Eric Pollard Hudson 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
6-4
ret.
Round 1
Ernest John Gilligan 1 *
Peter Balderston Macgregor
12-9