Family background
John Oates was born c1808 at Toppet, Clayton West near Huddelsfield, Yorkshire, England, the son of James Oates and his wife Mary. He married Hannah (1818-1901) and they immigrated to Australia on board the ship ‘Abdalla’ which arrived at Sydney on 21 February 1855. John Oates died at Waterloo, NSW on 18 November 1876, aged 68 years; he was buried at Rookwood Cemetery in the Old Presbyterian section. John Oates lived in Wyndham Street, Alexandria.
Occupation & interests
John Oates, as a local builder, was closely identified with the embryonic community in Alexandria, and as an early alderman gained influence, respectability and a good measure of social recognition.
Local government service
John Oates was elected as one of the nine inaugural alderman on Waterloo Council. He was an alderman on Waterloo Council in 1860-66 representing West Ward. He was mayor in 1865. Oates was an alderman on Alexandria Council in 1868-69.
References
‘Municipal and Shire Nominations’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 June 1860 p.2, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13042495
‘Borough of Alexandria’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 September 1868, p. 4, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13173193
‘Family Notices’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 November 1876, p. 16, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13383238
‘Family Notices’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 December 1876, p. 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13386096