Family background
John Clement Beare was born at Plymouth, England, in 1831. On 9 July 1855 he married Mary Ann Dennett at St James Church of England, Sydney, and had three sons and two daughters. He died at his home in Tamarama Street, Waverley in 1902, his wife predeceasing him by one year.
Occupation & interests
Orphaned at an early age, Beare joined the Royal Navy at 12 years of age. After service in the Mediterranean, he assisted with surveys of Cyprus and New Zealand. In the early 1850s, he left the Navy to prospect for gold at Ballarat and other Victorian goldfields. He was in Sydney by 1855 and, in 1863, was living at 217 Victoria Street. He set up a greengrocery and poultry business initially at 148 and later at 214-216 William Street, Woolloomooloo. He retired from the business when he became a City Alderman.
Local government service
John Clement Beare became Alderman for Fitzroy Ward on 24 January 1881 following the retirement of John McElhone. He served as a City Council Alderman for 18 years and 10 months, to 30 November 1899. He was a member of the Finance Committee, 1881, the Summons Enquiry Committee, 1892, the Fishmarket Inquiry, 1898, Special Inquiry Re Rates and Assessment Committee, 1898, the Works Committee, 1899 and the Garbage Disposal Committee, 1899.
References
City of Sydney Archives: Aldermen’s Files; Photos: CRS 54/395, 54/415. 54/464, and 54/481
Geeves, Philip & Emanuel, Cedric 1981, Philip Geeves’ Sydney, Angus & Robertson
Society of Australian Genealogists: Cemetery Transcripts
Sydney Mail 30 November 1889