Family background
William Best was born c1846 in Belfast, Ireland, the son of Henry Best and his wife Alice. In 1865 he immigrated to Brisbane, Australia, on board the ship ‘Empress of the Seas’. Best married Maria Ann Moody (1856-1926) in 1879 in Queensland and they had three sons and two daughters, including two sons that served on Darlington Council. William Best died 18 February 1933, aged 87 years, in a private hospital and he was interred in the Church of England Section of Rookwood Cemetery. He left a Will and his estate and assets were valued at £7,428. William Best lived at 14 Bligh Street, Newtown.
Occupation & interests
After immigrating to Queensland in 1865 William Best set up as a storekeeper, and in 1888 he came to Sydney and later established a timber merchant’s business in City Road, Darlington.
Community activity
William Best was the President of the Darlington Relief Society which was formed in 1907 to assist the poor of the district during the winter months. He was on the board of trustees for Victoria Park and was also a member of the Victoria Park Bowling Club where at the age of 81 years he won the championship for veterans over 75 years.
Local government service
Following an extraordinary vacancy William Best was elected as an alderman on Darlington Council in 1900. He served as an alderman until 1919. He was mayor in 1903 and 1915. His sons Leslie and George were also aldermen on Darlington Council.
References
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 March 1900, p. 1, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14297923
‘Mr. W. Best’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 February 1933, p. 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16954313