born at Clare in Ireland; arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, with his parents in 1850
sturdy pioneer type, cheery optimistic character, respected by all who knew him
My name is Thomas Quinlivan and I represent ‘Golden soil, wealth for toil’
because in 1908 I patented a design for a four-wheel-drive steam traction engine. Although
my traction engine was not the first to be produced with four-wheel drive (one had been
produced in the USA in the 1880s) mine was more practical, and it was the first machine
with four-wheel drive constructed in Australia.
1901-2001 Centenary of
Federation