First councillors – May 1860

The official declaration of the election of the first councillors to represent the municipal district of Woollahra was made on 30 May. The following men were declared councillors:

• Thomas Bowden (74 votes)
• Frederick Oatley (88 votes)
• Joseph Trickett (76 votes)
• John Valentine Gorman (67 votes)
• George Thornton (63 votes)
• James Edwards (47 votes)
• Samuel Thompson (44 votes)
• Richard Holdsworth (42 votes) and
• David B. Hughes (41 votes)

Thomas Bowden resigned as councillor in August and was replaced with Gerard Phillips in October 1860.


Meeting of Woollahra Council, 90 Ocean Street, c.1910.

First chairman (later mayor) – June 1860

In his absence the politician and merchant George Thornton was elected the first Chairman of Woollahra at the first meeting of Council held on 6 June 1860. Councillor Gorman proposed that Councillor Thornton be the first chairman and this nomination was seconded by Councillor Bowden and carried unanimously. George Thornton, who lived at Longwood in Darling Point, had previously been twice mayor of the Sydney Municipal Council and was thus able to provide the fledgling council with invaluable experience and advice. Councillor Thornton declined to seek re-election and was replaced as chairman by Samuel Thompson in February 1861.

George Thornton, chairman of Woollahra Council, 1860.

First town clerk (later general manager) – July 1860

In June 1860 Council advertised for a clerk and surveyor to be offered £200 per year with the use of a house. In July Thomas Weaver was appointed the first clerk of Council (the position later known as town clerk and more recently as general manager).  Mr Weaver’s tenure however was short lived – he was dismissed just four months into his position after he was found to be "in an unfit state, from intoxication" and so unable "to conduct his duties".

Henry Killick was appointed the new clerk in November following the consideration of 49 applications for the position. The clerk, whose yearly salary was set at £100, was expected "to reside on the Council premises, to volunteer security of two hundred pounds, and that the whole of his time must be at the disposal of the Council."