Family background
Benjamin Stone was born on 7 October 1869 at Enfield England, son of Benjamin Stone and Hannah. In 1895 he married Alice Colliner at Sydney. There were three daughters and two sons of the marriage. He died at 294 Glebe Point Road Glebe on 19 July 1961, aged 92 years. Alice Stone died at Glebe on 6 June 1958, aged 82 years.
Occupation & interests
Stone’s father, also Ben, a Birmingham gunsmith, worked at 90 Bay Street Glebe in 1885 as an ovenmaker. The firm advertised it was established in 1878. Stone & Sons, ovenmakers, trading as Waratah stoves, had an office at 69 Glebe Point Road in 1899. In 1900 B Stone & Son factory was located near the corner of Phillip Street and Cowper Lane Glebe, adjoining Bird & Lucas Foundry.
Community activity
Stone & Sons offered several types of iron and steel ‘Waratah Stove’ in 1906, at a price range from 2 pounds twelve and sixpence to five pounds ten shillings. A large number were installed in Glebe houses.
Local government service
During BEn Stone’s term on Council, the 50 year leases on St Phillips Estate expired, stimulating debate on the deterioration of its building and calls for resumption of St Phillips, and late in 1921 Glebe Council sought a deputation to the Minister for Housing. The Church of England Property Trust decided against sale despite adverse criticism in the press.
References
Glebe Municipal Council minutes 5 May 1919 p. 134; 19 July 1920 p. 179; 1 November 1920 p. 189
Barry Groom, ‘Research & Rescue: The Bird & Lucas Foundry’, ASHA Newsletter Vol 10 (1980) pp. 38-39
Australian Town and Country Journal 25 April 1906 p. 32
Sydney Morning Herald 2 February 1920 p. 8
Sydney Morning Herald 20 July 1961