Cullen, Edward Boyd

SLQ Neg 107908

CULLEN, Edward Boyd (1827–1893) was born at Galloway, Scotland, eldest son of Rev J Gavin Cullen. After being educated at the Kirkcudbright Academy, he migrated in 1849 to Sydney where he was later a clerk for the Bank of New South Wales, opening their branch at Ipswich Branch in 1854 before becoming inaugural town clerk. In 1860 he was one of three competitors in a fruitless competition for a School of Arts, his simple plan being significantly flawed. Cullen subsequently became a public servant, becoming chief clerk of the Treasury Department and Under-Secretary in 1877, and accountant-general of the Supreme Court in 1880. When he died in Brisbane, the Civil Service Board later observed that “the Colony has probably never had in its service, a more able or devoted officer”. His Brisbane born son, Edward Alexander Ernest Cullen (1861–1950), and grandson, Edward Boyd Cullen (1893–1988) were distinguished engineers.

Education

Kirkcudbright Academy, mouth of Dee River, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Migration and Travel

1849

Sydney, NSW.

Employed by:

Clerk, Bank of NSW, Sydney

1854

Clerk, Bank of NSW, Ipswich

1860-

Town Clerk, Ipswich, Qld

1861-

Colonial Treasurer’s Dept, Qld

1862-

8 Feb 1862: Chief Clerk, Colonial Treasurer’s Dept, Qld

1877-

1 Aug 1877: Under-Secretary, Treasury Dept, Qld

1880-

also Accountant-general, Supreme Court, Qld

Competition:

1860

School of Arts, Ipswich, Qld. (unsuccessful)

Genealogy

[F] Gavin Cullen, Rev (1793–1844) b. 1793, Kippbyres, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland; d. 18 Jan 1844, Kirkcudbright,

Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.

[S, 4 June 1827, Kirkcudbright / M] Mary Kennedy (1802–1874) b. 7 May 1802, Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland; d. 4 Feb 1874, Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

[4C/1-3B]Edward Boyd CULLEN(1828–1893) b. 19 Mar 1828, Balmaclellan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland; d. 1893, Qld.
[S, 2 Mar 1861, Qld / M] Fanny Moore (1834–1898) b. Ireland; d. 11 Jan 1898, Qld.
[B1-3] Edward Alexander Ernest Cullen (1861–1950) b. 21 Dec 1861, Qld; d. 1950
[S / M] Mary Margaret Robinson (?–1936) b. Qld; d. 30 Nov 1936, Brisbane, Qld.
[C/B] Edward Boyd Cullen (1893–1988)
[4C/2-3B] Archibald Kennedy Cullen (1829–1878) b. 1 Oct 1829, Balmaclellan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland; d. 2 Oct 1878, Warwick, Qld.

References

Moreton Bay Courier, 13 Oct 1860, 2; Queensland Times, 21 Nov 1893, 4; Daily Mail, 13 Dec 1925, 8; Brisbane Courier, 29 Mar 1895, 4; EL Richard (1984), entry for EA Cullen, Eminent Queensland Engineers, 26-27.