Sixth Governor of New South Wales.

Born in Scotland.

Applied for position of New South Wales Governor in 1815 and appointed in 1820 when the position became vacant. Had the same powers and responsibilities until the Act of 1823 as the Colonial Office had given all previous governors.

He was provided with a Colonial Secretary in 1821, a Colonial Treasurer in 1823 and an Attorney General under the Act of 1823. As the first governor to have to share his authority with a legislative body, he operated calmly with the Legislative Council set up by the New South Wales Act of 1823. This began the process of reducing the powers of the governor from the autocracy of the past.

Brisbane reorganised the land grant system and issued tickets-of-occupation which enabled land to be immediately occupied without a preliminary survey. He promised land only to those who would use it productively. He insisted that these people should maintain one convict labourer, free of expense to the Crown, for every 100 acres they were given. Apart from these land grants, he also sold Crown land.

Organized coastal surveys, paid convict gangs to clear land for settlers and built 4 new gaols.

Set up an agricultural training college and was patron of the New South Wales Agricultural Society.

Conducted experiments in growing tobacco, cotton, coffee and flax.

Aimed to make the colony self-sufficient both economically and in resources.

Initiated currency reforms.

Supported the establishment of religious denominations within the colony.

Appointed a Director –General of Education but this was stopped by the Colonial Office.

Ambivalent policy towards Aboriginals but declared martial law against the Indigenous peoples in the Bathurst area as they were stealing sheep and killing shepherds. Also requested 10,000 acres be set aside at Reid’s Mistake (Lake Macquarie) for the purpose of an Aboriginal mission. (Bahtabah)

J.D.Heydon, 'BRISBANE, SIR T.M.' Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 1 ed. Douglas Pike pp 151 - 155 (Melbourne University Press)