Family background
Wilfred Swift Birks was born c1864 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, son of Herbert Birks and Sarah A Chapman. He arrived in Sydney in 1885 by the vessel ’Sorata’. He married Ethel Margaretta Malvina Chamberlain (1870-1953) on 14 August 1889 in Sydney and they had three children; Ruby (1891), Wilfred (1894) and Arthur (1897). Birks died at his residence 51 Cremona Road, Como, on 13 May 1935, aged 68 years and he was buried in the Primitive Methodist Monumental Section of Woronora Cemetery. He left a Will and his estate and assets were assessed at £272. William Birks lived at 65 Botany Road, Waterloo and 348 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo.
Occupation & interests
Wilfred Swift Birks was a Freemason and a member of Lodge Sutherland No 585 and the Iron Duke Lodge UAO Druids.
Community activity
Birks was a justice of the peace (JP).
Local government service
Wilfred Swift Birks was an alderman on Waterloo Council for 3 terms: in 1911-13, 1915-17 and 1920-22, representing the West Ward.
References
‘Municipal Nominations’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 January 1911, p. 8, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15240149
‘Grand old man of Como passes’, The Daily Telegraph, 14 May 1935, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246472345