Image right: Mayor Thomas Dalton of Homebush Council, 1927. Courtesy Strathfield Local Studies.
In 1927, the Mayor of Homebush, Alderman Thomas Dalton, was recognised for his contribution to the Hospital Welcome Wave Campaign. This widespread patriotic endeavour involved the selling of paper flags to welcome the Duke and Duchess of York (parents of the late Queen Elizabeth II) to Australia. Two different flags were sold – the Union Jack and the Australian Flag, each featuring portraits of the couple – to be displayed in the windows of shops and houses. The proceeds of the flags went to supplement the funds of various public hospitals. [1]
Duchess of York (with Duke behind her) during their visit to Sydney in 1927. By Sam Hood. Courtesy State Library of NSW
Crowds welcome the Duke and Duchess of York to Sydney, 1927. By Sam Hood. Courtesy State Library of NSW
Alderman Thomas Dalton of Homebush Council was born in Concord in 1866 to John and Bridget Dalton. John Dalton (1801-1875) had been transported as a convict for life and arrived in Sydney in 1833. He was in his fifties when he married Bridget McElroy at St Mary’s Cathedral in August 1854. Bridget signed the register with an X. Their first child, William was born at Druitt Town (now Strathfield South) in mid-May the following year. The large family remained local.
Thomas Dalton was a busy man with a sense of public duty. In 1890, he was listed as a freeholder of Homebush when he signed a petition against the incorporation of the Municipality of Rookwood.[2] Between 1897-1925 he was living in Underwood Road Homebush, in a house given the name Mafeking, no doubt after the 1899-1900 Boer War siege of the same name.[3]
In 1899 he chaired the meeting at the Horse & Jockey Hotel that established the North Homebush Progress Association. In October 1901 he addressed the inquiry by the Public Works Committee into the proposed removal of the abattoirs from Glebe to Homebush Bay.[4]
Agitating for local government in the district, he collected signatures for the petition for the incorporation of Homebush Council.[5] He was elected as alderman of the newly constituted Homebush Council in August 1906 [6] and served until 1908. In 1908 he became the President of the Homebush branch of the Granville Labour League.[7] In July 1909 he became one of the Vice-Presidents of the Homebush (League) Bicycle Club.[8]
In February 1911 he was re-elected to Homebush Council, along with his elder brother, George. In 1913 Thomas campaigned for stock fees from the Homebush Saleyards to be given to the relevant councils instead of to the government. In early 1914, Homebush Council restricted the hours during which stock could be driven along Parramatta Road to the Glebe Abattoirs. This resulted in great resentment and sometimes a much longer trip for the poor stock.[9]
Thomas Dalton was not re-elected in 1914 although he did serve as alderman again from 1925 to 1928. In October 1926, during the annual Conference of the Local Government Association, he campaigned again for stock fees to be paid to Homebush Council and was widely supported in this endeavour.[10]
Thomas Dalton served as mayor from December 1926 to December 1927 when he was active in the Welcome Wave Campaign to welcome the Duke and Duchess of York to Australia. Two million flags were printed to be sold at a shilling each.[11]
The Sun 20 March 1927 p.36 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223230439
Thomas Dalton served as alderman until 1928 and died on 9 May 1929 at Mafeking.[12]
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Truth 27 February 1927 p.16 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/168687465
[2] Government Gazette of Australia September-October 1890 p.8019
[3] South African War. Britannica https://www.britannica.com/event/South-African-War
[4] Daily Telegraph 25 October 1901 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237373791
[5] Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales 7 March 1906 p.1649 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226474387
[6] Daily Telegraph 29 August 1906 p.12 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237632751
[7] The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 27 November 1907 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/86159862
[8] The Star 29 July 1909 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230482127
[9] The Sun 5 May 1914 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224656349
[10] Sydney Morning Herald 1 October 1926 p.16 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16313218
[11] Sunday Times 20 March 1927 p.14 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/128510988
[12] Sydney Morning Herald 10 May 1929 p.10 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16549847