 He was educated at Warwick State School, Brisbane Grammar School, and Townsend's School, Warwick.To avoid the free-selection mania in New South Wales the family moved to Queensland , and purchased Wyaga station, near Goondiwindi in 1861.Wyaga was sold two years later to fund the purchase of North Toolburra station near Warwick and Pikedale station near Stanthorpe.