Les and Cecil Thiess with the company aircraft in 1957. Picture: John Oxley Library.

QUEENSLAND'S pioneers of the 20th century were often figures of some controversy, usually because of their closeness to government, either state or local.

Controversies aside, the state today owes much to them for they were, in the Queensland way of things, men of vision, foresight and irresistible drive.

Sir Leslie Thiess, one of 10 brothers, was educated at Drayton Primary School, leaving early.

His big break came in World War II, when his earthmoving and construction business found a lucrative new customer in Uncle Sam.

In 1946, Thiess Brothers was the nation's biggest civil engineering firm and he opened Australia's first open-cut coalmine.

Thiess's close friendship with Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Russell Hinze often embroiled him in accusations of favouritism.

Another pioneer was Sir Bruce Small, who retired to the Gold Coast where he bought 40ha of flood-prone mangrove land on the Nerang River.

In the early 1960s, he pioneered the canal developments now so familiar on the coast.

In 1967, with the slogan "Think Big, Vote Small", he was elected lord mayor.

He saw no conflict of interest between his duties as an elected official and his opportunities as a property developer.

Other tourism pioneers include Jim Kennedy, Keith Williams and the late Christopher Skase.

The latter was a thorough rogue who fled the country leaving a mountain of debt. But his resorts had style.