Arthur Walker

Born
1835
Died
1916
Profession
Contractor, Grocer, House And Land Agent

Terms served on Council

Title Council From To
Alderman Paddington 1890 1903
Mayor Paddington 1896 1897

Family background

Arthur Walker was born in 1835 in Trim, County Meath, Ireland, the son of James Walker and Catherine Leich. At age 21, Walker emigrated to NSW from Ireland with his mother aboard the ship Fitzjames, arriving in Sydney on 1 April 1857. He was listed in the ship’s passenger list as a labourer who could read and write.

Walker married Frances Douglass (1842–1935) in Sydney in 1859. The pair had nine children, of which four lived to adulthood. Their eldest son, James Daniel Walker (1860–1951), was a magistrate in rural NSW and noted for his service in the St John Ambulance, being vice-president from 1938 and a recipient of the Commander of the Venerable Order of St John (CStJ). Their second son, Herbert Leigh Walker (1863–1932) was an auctioneer in the northern town of Narrabri who was elected as an alderman (1917–1932) and mayor (1928–1930) of the Municipality of Narrabri. Their youngest son, Arthur Douglas Walker (1874–1952) was a chemist and businessman who was an alderman (1911–1922) and mayor (1914–1915; 1918–1920) of the Municipality of Mosman.

Walker died aged 81 at his long-term residence, 61 Brown Street, Paddington, on 23 July 1916. His funeral, conducted by Wood Coffill funeral directors, was held on 24 July 1916 at the Church of England Cemetery, Rookwood.

Occupation & interests

Walker worked variously as a labourer, carter, house and land agent, grocer, and then as a contractor, from which he had retired by 1898.

Community activity

Arthur Walker was a member of the No. 1 Loyal Orange Lodge of the Grand Orange Lodge of NSW, and later elected as the Worshipful Master of the No. 1 Lodge, and Grand Treasurer of the NSW lodge. He was also president of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society.

Walker was associated with the NSW Liberal Reform Party, being president of the Paddington Liberal Association, and was nominated several times as a prospective Liberal candidate for the NSW Legislative Assembly.

He was appointed a Magistrate and Justice of the Peace in NSW in 1897.

On the occasion of the 50th Paddington municipal jubilee in 1910, Walker was interviewed for his reminiscences of the Paddington area: “There were no street lamps, pavements, no footpaths, during the [1860s], when I first knew Paddington. […] Most of the district was made up of paddock and wild bush, with here and there a house.”

Local government service

Walker first stood for election in February 1884 for the Borough of Paddington (Lower Ward). He was unsuccessful, being defeated by William Cable. When Cable resigned his seat in June 1885, Walker stood in the ensuing by-election, but was defeated by Patrick Harper. Walker ran again in the February 1886 election for Middle Ward but was defeated by builder Thomas McNamee.

Walker was elected unopposed to the Borough of Paddington (Lower Ward), on 21 April 1890, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of David Coulter. He was re-elected unopposed in February 1892, February 1895, February 1898, and February 1901. He retired from the council at the February 1903 municipal election.

Walker was elected to succeed George Jones as mayor on 11 February 1896. He served a single term and was succeeded by Thomas John West in February 1897.

Despite his retirement, Walker stood for election to Lower Ward in February 1904. However, he was defeated by Henry Ernest Lawrence.

References

Compiled and researched by Andrew Beveridge, 2025

The information about this alderman was compiled in collaboration with Woollahra Library and Information Service.

‘Fitzjames 1 Apr 1857’, in Assisted immigrants digitised shipping lists 1828-1896 [Item No: [4/4793]; Ship: Fitzjames; Series: NRS-5316; Reel No: Reel 2138], Museums of History NSW, URL: https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1e5kcq1/INDEX3100199
‘Deaths. Walker’, The Daily Telegraph, 24 July 1916, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239214099
‘Death of Mr. Arthur Walker’, The North Western Courier, 28 July 1916, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135275978
‘Obituary’, Daily Advertiser, 25 July 1916, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141897365
Madgwick, E. D., ‘The Loyal Orange Institution of New South Wales in the First Century of the Colony’, The Protestant Standard, 28 January 1888, pp. 6-7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207799800
‘Presentation to Bro. A. Walker, G.T.’, The Protestant Standard, 20 July 1889, p. 8, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207802361
‘Protestant Alliance Friendly Society’, The Protestant Standard, 21 April 1883, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article211531005
‘Paddington Electorate. Alderman A. Walker’s Candidature’, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 1901, p. 9, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14389911
New South Wales Government Gazette, 14 May 1897, No. 390, p. 3360, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224597800
‘List of Gentlemen Appointed to the Commission of the Peace’, New South Wales Government Gazette, 13 November 1914, No. 197 (Supplement), p. 6829, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227424024
‘Paddington’s Municipal Jubilee’, The Australian Town and Country Journal, 20 April 1910, p. 23, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264081504
Suburban and Country Municipal Elections’, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 February 1884, p. 9, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13550031
‘Paddington Municipality’, Evening News, 17 June 1885, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111013089
‘Borough Council Notices’, The Daily Telegraph, 19 June 1885, p. 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237132259
‘Municipal Elections – Borough of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 February 1886, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13610407
‘Municipal Elections – Borough of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 February 1886, p. 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13610897
‘Paddington Aldermanic Election’, Evening News, 22 April 1890, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128771815
‘Municipal Elections. Borough of Paddington’, The Daily Telegraph, 3 February 1892, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236054866
‘Municipal Elections. Borough of Paddington’, The Daily Telegraph, 7 February 1895, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article235988646
‘Municipal Elections. Borough of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 2 February 1898, p. 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14164833
‘Municipal Elections. Borough of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 February 1901, p. 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14368619
‘Municipal Elections. Borough of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 February 1896, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109914673
‘Municipal Elections. Borough of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 February 1904, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229288803
‘Borough of Paddington’, New South Wales Government Gazette, 16 February 1904, No. 93, p. 1402, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221031369

 

 

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