George Watson (mayor)
George Watson (1852–1923) was the 24th mayor of Brisbane, serving in 1892. Born in Glasgow, Scotland on 11 April 1852, he moved to Brisbane with his father at age 10 aboard the Ocean Chief. He trained as a plumber and, when his father retired in 1880, he and his brothers took over the family plumbing business.
He married Harriett Barnes in Brisbane on 7 November 1877, and they had nine children. One son, Norman Mayor Watson, served as a lance corporal in World War I and was killed in action in 1918.
Watson was an alderman for East Ward from 1891 to 1896 and was elected mayor on 6 February 1892. Because Brisbane faced severe floods, his term was extended into 1893. He served on several committees and strongly supported creating a sewerage system for Brisbane.
George Watson died of pneumonia after a short illness on 21 June 1923 in Brisbane, aged 71, and was buried in Toowong Cemetery. His wife Harriett died in 1926.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:06 (CET).