Family background
Edward Byrne was born c1817 in Meath, Ireland, son of Edward Byrne and Elizabeth. He married (1) Mary Hickey (1822-48) in 1844 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. They had a son and a daughter. After Mary’s death he married (2) Bridget Fornan in 1856 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney and they had seven children: 4 sons and 3 daughters. Edward Byrne died at his residence the ’Sir Joseph Banks Hotel’ in Botany, on 28 July 1883, aged 66 years. He left a Will and his estate and assets were assessed at £1,605. In 1860 he lived at the ’Grinding Young Hotel’ in Bullanaming Street, Redfern.
Occupation & interests
Edward Byrne was granted a Publican’s General License on 31 May 1860 in respect of ’The Grinding Young Hotel’, Bullanaming Street, Redfern and in later years he was the publican of the ’Sir Joseph Banks Hotel’, Botany, (1875-1883).
Community activity
Edward Byrne, as Waterloo Mayor, laid the foundation stone in October 1861 of the Ancient Order of Foresters’ Hall, Waterloo.
Local government service
Edward Byrne was elected as one of the nine inaugural alderman on Waterloo Council. Edward Byrne was an alderman on Waterloo Council in 1860-61, 1864 and 1866 representing North Ward. He was mayor in 1861.
References
‘Council Elections’, The Sydney Morning Herald 29 June 1860, p. 2, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13042511
‘Laying of the foundation stone of the Foresters’ Hall, Waterloo’, Empire, 22 October 1861, p.5: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60485125