Family background
William Austin was born on 6 December 1807 in Cowden, Kent, England, son of John Austin and Elizabeth Huggett. He married Mary Ann Sweetnam (1803-1884) on 17 August 1826 in Chiddingstone, Kent, England. Austin arrived in Sydney 11 December 1838 by the vessel ’James Pattison’ with his wife and four children; he had six additional children who were born in Sydney. He died in Waterloo on 23 September 1879, aged 72 years and was buried at Rookwood in the Old Wesleyan Section. Austin left a Will and his estate and assets were assessed at less than £100. He lived in Raglan Street, Waterloo.
Occupation & interests
Austin was a builder.
Community activity
Austin supervised voting at Pitt Street polling booth, Mount Lachlan Estate, Waterloo in February 1861.
Local government service
William Austin was elected as one of the nine inaugural alderman on Waterloo Council. He was an alderman on Waterloo Council in 1860-61.
References
‘Council Elections’, The Sydney Morning Herald 29 June 1860, p. 2, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13042511
‘Suburban Municipalities’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 1861, p.4, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13052637