Family background
J Frank Bamfield was born in Yorkshire and arrived in Sydney in the late 1800s by the Orient Line ship ‘Ormuz’, as a young man seeking his fortune.
He married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Johnstone in March 1893 at St Stephens in Newtown. They had three sons, Frank, Bruce and Eric, and lived at ‘Ventnor’, Holt Street, Stanmore. J Frank Bamfield died at his home in Baroona Road, Northbridge in 1934, survived by his wife and three sons.
Occupation & interests
Bamfield was employed for 10 years in the boot department at Anthony Horderns, before buying A G Horton’s shoe store at 281-287 King Street, Newtown in 1907. Bamfield later formed it into a limited company and opened branches in a number of suburbs. Bamfield had a holiday home at Springwood and was a friend of the artist Norman Lindsay.
Community activity
A prominent Mason, Bamfield served as Grand Director of Ceremonies and also as District Grand Inspector of Workings. He was a Past Master of the Mark Lodge, and a Past First Principal of the Royal Arch Chapter. Serving on the council of the Retailers’ Association, he was also a keen lawn bowler and was an interstate player. He was president of Victoria Park and Petersham bowling clubs for several years.
Local government service
J Frank Bamfield was an alderman on Newtown Council, representing O’Connell Ward from 1911 to 1919, and its mayor in 1913-1915. He was also acting mayor in 1912. According to his obituary, he also served on Petersham Council.
References
Biographical information for this alderman was originally researched by Mark Matheson for the Newtown Project Website.
Additional information was provided by Frank Bamfield’s granddaughter in January 2013.
‘Mr Frank Bamfield’ The Sydney Morning Herald 26 September 1934, p. 18. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17120464
‘Social Items’, Evening News 2 November 1907, p. 14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113893574
‘Family Notices’ The Sydney Morning Herald 1 May 1893, p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28262041