Family background
Thomas Galvin was the youngest son of John Galvin, of Castlereagh Street, Sydney. He married Lucy Nobbs in 1844, and they had numerous children, born between 1845 and 1869. Born in 1826, Lucy was originally from Evesham, Worcestershire, England, and had arrived in the colony in 1833.
The family lived at 55 Hordern Street, Newtown, from 1863. Thomas Galvin died in office on 30 June 1877, aged 54. Lucy Galvin died at Hordern Street on 7 September 1897. One of their sons, Thomas Galvin junior, was a carpenter and builder who worked on the steeple of St Stephen’s Church in Newtown.
Occupation & interests
Thomas Galvin was noted as a shoemaker, but also as the publican of a hotel opposite from the post office. He took out the licence for The Currency Lad on Newtown Road on 16 November 1848. He was also a keen cricketer and part of the Newtown Club.
Local government service
Thomas Galvin was an alderman on Newtown Council from 1867 until his death in 1877, representing O’Connell Ward. He served as treasurer for many years, including from 1873 to 1876. He requested leave of absence due to illness twice, in September 1869 and May 1875, respectively. He attended Council until 15 May 1877 and died four months later. After Galvin’s death, David Bedford was elected to return as an alderman, even though he no longer resided in O’Connell Ward.
References
Biographical information for this alderman was originally researched by Mark Matheson for the Newtown Project Website. Additional research was undertaken by Dr Martina Muller, November 2022.
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 September 1848, 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12911168
‘No title’, Bell’s Life in Sydney, 16 November 1861, 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59790208
‘Borough of Newtown’, NSW Government Gazette, 31 August 1877, Issue No. 278, 3347, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223538202
‘Family Notices’, Evening News, 2 July 1877, 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108192459
‘Family Notices’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 7 September 1898, 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14158343
Death of Mr. Thomas Galvin, Nepean Times, 29 July 1943, 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117893339