Ebenezer

Thorne. Ebenezer Thorne. A name whispered in the streets of Brisbane, a name synonymous with controversy. Here, at Ebenezer, the very air crackles with the echoes of his audacious escapades. Ebenezer, a complex character, was a devout lay preacher, a printer like his father, and yet, a man shadowed by accusations of shady dealings. He arrived in Queensland in 1863, a devout Bible Christian, following in the footsteps of his missionary family. But his life here took a rather unconventional turn. From capturing unbranded horses in Gympie to hunting dugongs in Maryborough, Ebenezer was a man of many pursuits. He even floated a dugong oil company in England, promising investors a government monopoly that never materialized. In 1876, Ebenezer returned to Brisbane with his wife and daughter, aboard the “Western Monarch”. Their journey was anything but smooth, with a suicidal actress, a fire, a fever outbreak, and mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Ebenezer, amidst the chaos, was noted for leading evening prayers. He settled in Belmont, naming the area Carina after his daughter. Ebenezer’s ventures included a string of newspapers, each one a platform for his sharp-tongued editorials. These editorials, often swaying with the political winds to secure government advertising, earned him the label of “controversial.” He was even accused of attempting to influence the German vote for a hefty sum. Ebenezer dabbled in politics, but his speeches were often met with heckling about stolen cows and the infamous dugong oil. His legal battles were frequent, including a libel suit against Figaro for a poem mocking him. He served as a magistrate until dismissed for publishing his opinion on a case he was presiding over. His local council work was equally turbulent, marked by accusations of road fund misallocation and even a physical altercation with a fellow board member. Ebenezer’s financial woes began in 1891, culminating in bankruptcy. His wife, Kate, died the following year. He remarried Sarah Elizabeh Lane in 1893, moving into Prospect Place, the house at 1 Gertrude Street. The house, likely built as a duplex, resembled the Prospect House School in Devon founded by his father and uncle. Ebenezer lost other properties in the 1889 financial crash. His daughter Carina, a published poet, died young from pneumonia. Ebenezer, remarkably, authored a book titled “The Heresy of Teetotalism” in 1903. His later years were a whirlwind of bigamous marriages and financial schemes. He died in New Zealand in 1911 under the alias Benjamin Enroth, leaving a tangled web of legal battles and a legacy as colorful as it was contentious.