Frank William Moorhouse

Frank Wiliam Moorhouse was born in Taringa, a suburb of Brisbane. He trained as a pupil teacher at Taringa State School, and was then transferred to Herberton State School after he was accredited. Moorhouse enlisted in the Army during World War I, serving in Egypt and France. After the war ended, he recommenced teaching at Cairns High School, while he undertook a B.Sc. from the University of Queensland. He transferred to Brisbane working at Windsor. He took this degree with Honours in oceanography, and then continued his study toward a M.Sc.

In 1928, Moorhouse was selected as the University’s representative on the Great Barrier Reef Expedition led by Dr Maurice Yonge. This expedition which attracted scientists from all over the Commonwealth would spend a year on the Reef, principally around Low Isles, studying corals and other fauna. Moorhouse published a number of papers following the expedition.

In the 1930’s, Moorhouse worked as a marine biologist for the Queensland government and the Great Barrier Reef Committee, studying the commercial potential of trochus, sponges and beche de mer. From 1930-1931, Moorhouse undertook research on Mer (Murray Island) and made a number of films of the island, documenting the daily lives and events of the residents of the island His family also used his camera to record events around Brisbane. He left his government position and started a business from Low Island, collecting trochus shells for sale and sponge farming. However this enterprise was disrupted by the 1935 cyclone which swamped the island, and a theft of his stock by fishermen further discouraged his plans.

Moorhouse took a position as a Marine Biologist with the federal government in 1935, and in 1936 was appointed Chief Inspector of the Fisheries and Game Department in South Australia.

Moorhouse volunteered with the Army during WW2. In 1945, his department recommended support for the Haldane family’s plan to establish a South Australian fishing industry, which planned to pursue tuna, sardines, tommy ruffs, garfish, mackerel and salmon. Moorhouse recommended the South Australian government loan the Haldane family 20,000 pounds which they used to build a super vessel at Port Lincoln. It would revolutionise the industry.

He received a Coronation Medal in 1953. Moorhouse retired from the Fisheries and Game Department in 1959, after 23 years advocating for the industry.

Moorhouse died August 7, 1967 and was buried in Queensland.