The Honourable Virgil Power was born on 2 August 1849 in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of Michael Power, auctioneer and commission agent, and his wife Anna Marie (née Connolly). A private tutor educated him before he attended St Mary’s College, Sydney (1868) and Jesuit College, Clongowes Wood, Kildare, Ireland. He graduated Bachelor of Arts with honours from Trinity College, Dublin (1871).
In 1873, Power was admitted as a barrister of the Middle Temple, London, and the King’s Inn, Dublin. He returned to Queensland and was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 26 April 1875. He commenced a period of 20 years in practice at the private bar, holding a succession of appointments as Crown Prosecutor. On 22 October 1881, he was appointed crown prosecutor for the northern district of the Supreme Court, in 1887, crown prosecutor for the southern District Court and, on 1 July 1891, crown prosecutor for the southern district of the Supreme Court. He was also a member of the Supreme Court Library Committee (1883-85). Power married Jane Helena Horne in 1877. The couple had four sons – Harold, Virgil, Percy and Joseph – and six daughters – Annette, Hilda, May, Frances, Ethel and Evelyn.
On 20 December 1895, Power was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He was the first Queensland-born judge of the court. He was also the first judge to be appointed to the position of Central Judge, based at Rockhampton. He served in that role until his retirement on 20 December 1910. Power died on 2 June 1914. In 1998, the new Rockhampton courthouse, the Virgil Power Building, was named in his honour.
Schooling
St Mary’s College, Lyndhurst, Sydney (1868)
Jesuit College, Clongowese Wood, Kildare, Ireland
Private tutor
University Education
BA (Hons), Dublin University (1870)
Judicial Career
Judge, Supreme Court of Queensland (1895-1910)
Deputy Judge, Vice-Admiralty Court (1881)
Pre-judicial Career
Crown Prosecutor, Southern Supreme Court (1882-1895)
Member, Board of Examiners for Barristers (1880-1881)
Crown Prosecutor, Northern District Court (1875-1882)
Member, Board of Examiners for Attorneys (1881)
Admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland (1875)
Admitted as a Barrister by Middle Temple, London (1873)
Admitted as a Barrister by King’s Inn, Dublin (1873)
Extra Judicial Positions
Chairman, Queensland Turf Club (1899-1901)
Chairman, Queensland Turf Club (1891-1892)
