Family background
Born in 1814, David Bedford was the son of a Yorkshire clergyman. In 1871, Bedford bought a portion of the Pencilville Estate on Enmore Road. The family, which included at least five children, moved to their house there, named ‘Olive Bank’, on the east corner of Reiby Street, in 1873.
Bedford’s wife Sarah died on 26 July 1882 at their residence on Enmore Road, Newtown, aged 53, after a short but painful illness. Bedford married Mary Elizabeth Agnes English in 1885, but died on 30 August that same year at ‘Olive Bank’, Enmore Road, Newtown, aged 71.
Occupation & interests
During the 1860s, Bedford owned a bakery and store on Newtown Road (King Street), near Longdown and Ann Streets.
Local government service
David Bedford was elected to the first Newtown Council in 1863 and served as an alderman until 1874, and again from 1877 to 1881. He represented O’Connell ward and proposed publican James Conley as Mayor.
Although Bedford lived in Enmore Ward from 1873, he was asked to return to represent O’Connell Ward in 1877, replacing the late Thomas Galvin.
References
Biographical information for this alderman was originally researched by Mark Matheson for the Newtown Project Website.
‘Advertising’, Empire, 20 May 1865, p. 7, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64138453
‘Family Notices’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 July 1882, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13515623
‘Family Notices’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 August 1885, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13596762
‘Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction’, New South Wales Government Gazette, 4 September 1885, Issue No. 391, p. 5809, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page13988744