Political Attitudes and Land Policy in Queensland, 1868-1894

TLDR: In this article, the authors examine these attitudes and assess the effects of policy based on them and conclude that the division of opinion was a continuation of the argument over land policy that had existed since the early days of settlement in Australia and arose out of different approaches that were made to it.

Abstract: THREE MAIN FACTORS can be distinguished in the development of land policy in Queensland during the later nineteenth century. One was the physical environment, which determined to a very great extent the way in which the land could be used and also served to modify the policies that were introduced. The others were the contrasting attitudes toward land utilization and settlement that formed the basis of land policy during this period. It is the purpose of this article to examine these attitudes and to assess the effects of policy based on them.' Summarized in very general terms, the division of opinion was a continuation of the argument over land policy that had existed since the early days of settlement in Australia and arose out of different approaches that were made to it. On the one hand was the view derived from an economic interpretation of the land question, which held that the land should be utilized in the way for which it appeared best suited and that government policy should reflect this. Such an approach might be termed the rural one, since it came to be held by most of the rural interests during the period. At best it was a logical assessment of the problem, but it tended to represent a static interpretation of economic questions and often did not take political