The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Cowley, Hon. Alfred Sandlings
Cowley, Hon. Alfred Sandlings, M.L.A., J.P., Minister of Public Lands and Agriculture, Queensland, is the son of Isaac Cowley and Charlotte his wife, was born at Fairford, Gloucestershire, on April 24th, 1848, and when quite a boy accompanied his parents to Natal, South Africa. He served an apprenticeship to the building and engineering trade, making the erection of sugar machinery a speciality; but he subsequently became an agriculturist, and was for three years engaged in cultivating sugar and coffee. Early in 1871 Mr. Cowley left Natal for the Australian colonies, and was a resident of New South Wales for over two years, part of which time he was in charge of a central sugar-mill on the MᶜLeay river. Subsequently he resided in the Maryborough district of Queensland for three years, during which time he was engaged in the cultivation and manufacture of sugar. After that Mr. Cowley settled in the Lower Herbert district, and was actively employed in the sugar industry. He was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Herbert in 1888, and on the formation of the Griffith-McIlwraith Government in August 1890 was appointed Secretary for Public Lands and Agriculture, and sworn of the Executive Council. Mr. Cowley was married at Pietermaritzburg, Natal, on July 24th, 1880, to Miss Marie Campbell.