Family background
Matthew Francis Smith was born c1831; he was the son of Matthew Smith and Ann. He was living in Botany Street in 1882 and at ’Tivoli’ 307 Cleveland Street, Redfern at the time of his death on 12 May 1908. He was buried in the Independent Methodist Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He was married to Catherine Larkin (1841-1926) in Sydney in 1872 and they had one son, George Henry Smith who was also an alderman on Waterloo Council in 1895-99.
Occupation & interests
Mayor Matthew Smith trenchantly defended Waterloo residents against allegations made in the Daily Telegraph of 29 December 1883. Most residents he said were highly respectable and Waterloo Council publicly protests against the newspapers untrue assertions.
Community activity
Matthew Smith was a justice of the peace (JP).
Local government service
Matthew Francis Smith was an alderman on Waterloo Council in 1882-84, 1887-92 and 1894. He was elected an alderman in 1887 as a consequence of the resignation of Alderman Geddes and in 1894 he was elected in consequence of the seat of Alderman Kellett having been declared vacant. Smith was mayor in 1883-84.
References
‘The Late Matthew Smith’, The Australian Star, 20 June 1908, P. 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229912042