Thomas Strachan was born in England in 1849 and emigrated to Australia in 1863 with his widowed father, Lewis, aboard the 'Fiery Star'. Lewis Strachan settled at Waterford (Queensland) and later acquired land through the division of the Jimboomba Station. After a period prospecting at the Gympie goldfields, Thomas returned to the Jimboomba area, inheriting the family property on his father's death. As well as managing the prosperous mixed dairy and grazing property, Thomas Strachan was active in public affairs in the district and served on the Tabragalba Division Board and the Tamborine Shire Council. He was secretary of the committee which promoted the establishment of the first State School in Jimboomba. He and his wife Elizabeth are buried in the Mundoolun cemetary near Tamborine.