Family background
Thomas Adrain was born c1835 in Larne, Antrim, Ireland, the son of John Adrain and his wife Mary. He immigrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1857 on board the ship ‘Screamer’. Thomas Adrain married Emma Swadling (1845-1932) 1 August 1865 at St James Church, Sydney, and they had four sons and two daughters. Thomas Adrain died 30 August 1884, aged 49 years, late of the Ivanhoe Hotel, Manly Beach, and he was interred in Manly Cemetery. He left no Will. Thomas Adrain lived in Newtown Old Road, Darlington.
Occupation & interests
Thomas Adrain was a successful tenderer for several government plumbing contracts. He was the contractor for the laying down of the main pipeline for the Parramatta Gas Company and the service pipes for intending customers. Thomas Adrain was the licensee of the Ivanhoe Hotel, in Fountain Street, Manly, from 1875 until his death when his wife took over the licence.
Community activity
At a council meeting in April 1871, Alderman Adrain successfully moved that Darlington Council resolve itself into a ‘Committee of the Whole’ for the making of an assessment upon the rateable property within the borough in accordance with the provisions of the Municipalities Act of 1867.
Local government service
Thomas Adrain was an alderman on Darlington Council in 1872-73. He was the Treasurer for Darlington 1871-1873. His son, also named Thomas, was an alderman on Manly Council.
References
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 February 1871, p. 1
Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies, Adrian, Alderman Thomas Gordon. Northern Beaches Council, TRIM MC/12/10461, accessed 17/02/2023, https://northernbeaches.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/10284