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Former Member Details

Mr William BROOKS (1858 - 1937)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 31/12/1858
Place of Birth: Tiverton, Devon, England
Date of Death: 14/10/1937
Place of Death: Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 17 Jul 1917 22 Apr 1934 16 years 9 months 6 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act: Date of Writ of Summons 6 May 1917. Granted retention of title of 'Honourable' for life.
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Printer and publisher. Educated at Tiverton board school, started as a compositor and worked in London. Journeyed to South Africa in 1880, served in the Basuto War 1880 - 1881. Arrived in Sydney in 1884, working in composing department of the 'Sydney Morning Herald' for a time; established his own business as a city printer, won the tender to print school books for Education Department, expanded business as William Brooks and Company extending into manufacturing; founder and chairman of Australian Federal Capital League; president of Master Printers Association from 1911 until 1924, councillor of Chamber of Manufactures from 1914 until 1925; president of Employers Federation of New South Wales from 1914 until 1920, vice president of Central Council of Soldiers Club in 1915, first president of Returned Serviceman's League, trustee of Anzac Memorial Fund; vice president of Citizens Referendum Six O'Clock Association in 1916; paper contoller for the Commonwealth in 1918; vice president of the Millions Club in 1918; director of Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution, president of Adult Defence League in 1933.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman of Sydney City Council for Bourke Ward 2 June 1919 - 31 December 1927. Member of the Finance Committee 1919 - 1927, Vice-Chairman 1923; Works Committee 1919 - 1924; and the Health and By-Laws Committee 1925 - 1927.
Personal
Son of James Brooks, lacehand, and Mary Ann Williams. Married Jessie Taylor in c.1884 at Capetown, South Africa, and had issue, 5 daughters. Burial at South Head Cemetery from St Stephens Presbyterian Church in Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), Volume 7.