Young, John

Description

Unique IDPE-000005SurnameYoungGiven namesJohnBirth date1st January 1855Death date1st January 1907Biographical noteJohn Young was a building contractor born at Foot's Cray, Kent, in England. He migrated to Victoria in 1855 where he was credited with the construction of many metropolitan churches, the interior of the Bourke Street Synagogue, the Ballarat gaol and powder magazine, and St Patrick's Cathedral.

In 1866 he moved to Sydney where he undertook many large building jobs until about 1890. This included sections of St Mary's Cathedral, the Department of Lands building and the General Post Office. In 1873 he was founding president of the Builders' and Contractors' Association of NSW.

He was Alderman for Bourke Ward from 1876 to 1887, and Mayor in 1886. During his year as Mayor he kept a journal of his daily activities. This journal is the only one in Council's Archives from a former mayor.

Young bought Annandale as a real estate speculation in 1877 and was prominent in its development. He was an alderman on Leichhardt Council from 1879, and Mayor in 1879, 1884 and 1885. He led a secessionist movement resulting in the incorporation of Annandale as a separate municipality from Leichhardt in 1894. He was Mayor of Annandale from 1894 to 1896.

Young had extensive gardens and a bowling green on his property at Annandale. In her book "Sydney 1842-1992", Shirley Fitzgerald describes how in 1883, the water meter for Young's property, (the only meter in Annandale), was reset to 200,000 gallons less than the current reading. (For further information on "The Great Water Meter Scandal of 1883" refer to pages 77 and 78 of "Sydney 1842-1992").

Young died at Annandale on 27 February 1907 and was buried in Waverley Cemetery.Occupational history1876-1887 Alderman for Bourke Ward
1886 Mayor of Sydney Municipal CouncilSource system ID5

Series

Journal of Mayor John Young

Relationships

CollectionPeople and PositionsRelated functionsMayoralty / Lord Mayoralty

Registration

Detailed recordYes

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Young, John