Family background
William Bull was born at 21 May 1819 at Liverpool, NSW, son of James Bull and Ann Wilson. On 25 September 1843 he married Catherine Ann Rowley at Sydney. There were five sons and three daughters of the marriage. He died on 18 February 1900, 80 years. Catherine Bull died 13 January 1901, aged 77 years.
Occupation & interests
William Bull was apprenticed as a waggon builder in 1837, established his own business constructing waggons at Liverpool from 1843 to 1849, and then operated as a wheelwright, at Haymarket, Sydney from 1849 to 1883. Bull left an estate of 11,548 pounds sworn for probate purposes.
Community activity
William Bull gave Glebe Rowing Club an interest free loan to build its boatshed in 1879. His two sons were involved in the founding of Glebe Rowing Club, with Sidney Bull its first secretary and life member. William Bull was president of Glebe Rowing Club 1886 and 1887, and a trustee of Wentworth Park.
Local government service
William Bull was part of Glebe Council deputations in 1878 requesting the government to take steps to abate the nuisance at Blackwattle Swamp, and in 1879 seeking permission for public baths to be erected at the foot of Ferry Road.
References
Australian Men of Mark 1889 Charles F Maxwell, Sydney, pp. 287-89
Australian Town and Country Journal 24 February 1900 p. 15 Obituary
Sydney Morning Herald 22 June 1878 p. 12; 15 March 1879 pp. 3-4
Solling, Max 1993, The boatshed on Black Wattle Bay: Glebe Rowing Club, 1879-1993, Glebe Rowing Club, Glebe, NSW, pp. 36-37