LUKIN, GRESLEY (1840-1916) was born at Launceston, Tasmania (the son of English parents), and educated in his native town. He studied engineering for two years, but disliked it and went on the stage, where for a few years he took a variety of parts in comedy and drama and was particularly successful in Shakespeare characters.

In 1866 he relinquished acting and accepted a post in the Queensland civil service, rising in two years to be chief clerk of the Lands department. He was for a while superintendent of a vast land district, which he had to traverse on horseback, thus gaining an insight into administrative matters and the life of the outback settlers. He personally drafted the Queensland land act of 1868. In 1871 Lukin was transferred to the Justice department as chief clerk in the supreme court at Brisbane. In 1873 he purchased an interest in the Brisbane Newspaper Co., which owned the Courier and the Queenslander. He edited the latter paper for some years with considerable success and became managing director of the company. He was one of the movers in the despatch of Ernest Favenc's expedition across the continent. Lukin was at this time a prominent citizen of Brisbane, and in 1879 he was sent to Sydney as Queensland commissioner to the International Exhibition. In the following year he disposed of his Brisbane interests and moved to Sydney, where he entered into journalism as a freelance writer and correspondent. He also tried a small pastoral venture in New South Wales, but in a year or two returned to Brisbane, and purchased the Boomerang from W. Lane (q.v.). This was a bright and convincing weekly run with great vigour and personality, and advocating the cause of the working class with fairness and humanity.

While conducting the Boomerang Lukin made the acquaintance of many rising writers afterwards famous in Australian journalism. He took a great interest in the Australian Natives' Association and was one of the founders of the Queensland Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He also founded the Johnsonian Club, which included in its membership many professional men of Brisbane. He was keenly interested in mining enterprises, and was instrumental in the flotation of several companies. In 1892 Lukin suffered a breakdown in health and was compelled to seek a more invigorating climate. He disposed of the Boomerang and paid a visit to New Zealand. While living in Otago, the floods occurred in Queensland and he wrote to the Otago Daily Times an eloquent appeal for relief for the sufferers (his first contribution to the New Zealand press). After doing a little freelance writing he joined the staff of the Evening Post, Wellington, then edited by Gillon (q.v.), and soon made a reputation as a fine writer and a scrupulously honest, humane and fairminded journalist. In him the highest traditions of the press were maintained. At an early date he made a 'scoop' by forecasting the proposed legislation to rescue the Bank of New Zealand.

On the death of Gillon (1896) Lukin became editor. Essentially a non-party man and a convinced democrat, he was a constant advocate of liberal land laws, education, and a white New Zealand. Though a strong imperialist, he was also an ardent nationalist and a supporter of home rule for Ireland. He advocated also a non-political civil service and the reform of the legislative council (which became law before his death, but was not brought into operation). Under his control the Post became the leading independent paper in New Zealand. In 1906 he represented the Commonwealth of Australia at the funeral of Seddon and in 1909 he attended the first Imperial press conference in London. As president of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists he warmly advocated a better organisation of the professional interest in journalism, but failed to get it accepted. Lukin died on 12 Sep 1916.

Evening Post, 12 Sep 1916 (p); Otago Daily Times, N.Z. Herald, Brisbane Courier, 13 Sep 1916; Cycl. N.Z., vol i; Who's Who N.Z., 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 271

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