Mayors of Holroyd

Monaghan, Peter John

(21/9/2010 - 20/9/2011)

Perry, John Frederick

(15/9/2009 - 21/9/2010)

Cummings, Gregory John

(30/9/2009 - 15/9/2009)

Brodie, Dr John Hector

(13/4/2004-20/9/2005, 19/9/06-30/9/2008)

Ezzy, Allan Gordon APM

(17/9/1985-20/9/1988, 24/9/1991-20/9/1994, 16/9/1997-21/9/1999, 20/9/2005-19/9/2006)

First elected to Council, September 1974 to the then Lawson Ward, which later was joined with the Guildford Ward and known as Greystanes/Guildford Ward, and is now known as West Ward.

He has held the position of Deputy Mayor on three occasions, and position of Mayor for nine terms. He is a Member of the NSW Executive of the Local Government Association, Delegate to WSROC, Foundation Trustee of the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust, State Chairman of NSW Floodplain Management Authorities, Director of the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority. He is also a Director of Metropool, a Local Government Insurance Group.

Whilst qualified as a Plumber, Drainer & Gasfitter, he served with distinction in the NSW Police Force and retired after thirty six years as a Senior Prosecutor and State Co-ordinator of Operations for Legal Services. During his service he prosecuted many high profile cases. He also holds Academic Qualifications in Management.

In 2003 he was awarded the Australian Police Medal (APM) for Distinguished Service. He has also been Decorated for Bravery with the Queens Commendation for Bravery, The Centenary of Federation Medal, National Medal for Service with Two Bars, NSW Police Medal for Diligent and Ethical Service, and Bar, the Commissioners Commendation for Bravery, and the Local Government Association Medal for Service.
Clr Ezzy served for several years as Chairman of the Western Sydney Alliance of Councils, which represented ten councils, and many community groups, totalling over one million Western Sydney residents, and led the campaign against the Federal Governments plans to build Badgery's Creek Airport.

Over the time he has been in Council he has initiated many firsts, including the now highly successful Holroyd Herald, and the Annual Mayoral Prayer Dinner.

Clr Ezzy and his wife Patricia live and have raised their three daughters in Greystanes, where they are actively involved in the community and their local Church.

Tulloch, Malcolm McIvor

(17/09/2002-13/04/2004)


As a Labor party candidate Mal Tulloch was first elected to council on September 1995. An electrician by trade he became involved in the labour movement and local politics due to his strong social conscience. He has developed a visionary & pragmatic approach whilst serving on council.

He has been acknowledged for his contribution towards the development and implementation of ethical labour standards in local Government, protection of the environment through sustainability, delivering the transparent administration of Council, community participation in Council's decision making processes and a fierce advocate for the community's health and safety.

Mal became the driving force in 1997 for the development of Holroyd's Asbestos demolition controls that have been acknowledged as the Industry standard and adopted by other Sydney Councils.

He was elected as Mayor of Holroyd City in 2002 and quickly became one of the most progressive Mayors in Holroyd City Councils history. For the first time the City was driven by the community's desire for a better living environment and a sustainable community that culminated in the Living Holroyd action plan.

Under his stewardship the suburb name of Pemulwuy was proclaimed on the 30 January 2004. In doing so honoured a great Bidjigal Warrior and an indelible link to the cultural and historical importance of Indigenous people in this area. It was also overdue respect to the local traditional owners and custodians of this land the Darug people.

In collaboration with local religious leaders, as Mayor hosted the first Pause for Peace on 11 September 2003. The ceremony focused on the hope that peoples around the world would aspire for a just, tolerant, peaceful and harmonious community.

Mal is employed a full time official with the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union. He has campaigned for stronger safety laws after recent deaths in the construction industry. Consistently fighting for peace, justice & workers rights in the local community.

As Mayor he has served this community with honour & distinction.

Pigram, Andrew Mark

(21/9/2000-17/9/2002)



Clr Andrew Mark Pigram was first elected to Council on 11 September 1991, becoming Deputy Mayor in 1997 and holding that office for three consecutive terms before being elected unopposed to the office of Mayor on 12 September 2000. Clr Mark Pigram, as he was known, was only the 25th person to hold the office of Mayor of Holroyd in its 130 year history and was the first Mayor to be elected unopposed in a quarter of a century. He held the office of Mayor for two consecutive terms before not seeking re-election in 2002 due to his young family.

Clr Pigram was preceded on Council by his brother Neil who held office on Holroyd Council from 1983 - 1987. Clr Pigram and his brother are thought to be the only brothers to have held elected office on Holroyd Council.

Clr Pigram held the office of Mayor during the International Year of the Volunteer in 2001, the Australian Centenary of Federation in 2001, the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic games, at the commencement of the 21st millennium, and at the time of the successful transfer of the historic Linnwood Hall to community ownership and the approval of the largest residential development in the history of Holroyd, the Boral estate at Prospect. Clr Pigram was instrumental in placing Holroyd in the 21st century with the launching of the Council Website "The Gateway to Western Sydney" and having all new residential dwellings in Holroyd being required to have state of the art telecommunication links to provide for the lifestyles of this century.

During his Mayoralty Clr Pigram promoted the identification of Holroyd for its strategic economic, cultural and geographic importance as the Gateway to Western Sydney and positioned Council to deal with long term strategic engineering and development built form pressures along with before becoming Mayor, successfully campaigning for the need for the regeneration of the Merrylands CBD and other CBD areas within Holroyd which the NSW government finally recognised. Clr Pigram as a Clr and as Mayor also continually campaigned to government on slowing residential re-development within Holroyd.

Clr Pigram argued to State and Federal governments against the construction of an airport at Badgerys Creek and led the campaign for Western Sydney on this issues over many years in particular as Chairman of the Alliance of 10 Western Sydney Councils and Community which was extremely successful in the anti Badgery's Creek Airport campaign.

Herlinger, Peter Theodore

(21/9/1999-21/9/2000)



Peter Herlinger was the first Labor Mayor of Holroyd City. He is actively involved with Trade Union issues - in 1967 contributed to winning equal pay for female technical staff. Bought land in Girraween in 1952. Australian Labor Party (Toongabbie Branch from 1963 to date). Held most branch positions.

Graham, Stuart

(20/9/1994-16/9/1997)



A leading hand technician at hospital equipment supplier, Baxter Health Care and father of two, Stuart Graham was Deputy Mayor between 1991 and 1994, before taking up the top job as Mayor.

Downing, Robert Norman

(18/9/1990-24/9/1991)



Robert Downing from Wentworthville was elected to Council in 1980 and had wide sporting interests. He was a life member of Parramatta Cricket Association and was its secretary for 10 years. He also served for many years on the board of directors of Wentworthville Leagues Club and in his spare time enjoyed writing.

Gard, Graham Charles OAM

(20/9/1988-18/9/1990)

Warnock, Keith Matthew

(25/9/1984-17/9/1985)



Keith Warnock was born in Guildford in 1924. His background was in accounting and banking. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in WWII and served as a navigator in a Lancaster Bomber Squadron over Europe. After the war he moved into footwear retailing and expanded to a small chain of stores.

Maley, Henry Lionel OAM

(4/10/1983-25/9/1984)



Harry Maley, a well-known businessman served as Alderman for Holroyd Council for thirty-nine years. Maley moved to the municipality in approximately 1937 and contributed much of his life to council. In 1979 Henry Lionel Maley (known to everyone as Harry) was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his overwhelming and long contribution to the community. He was elected as Chairman of Prospect County Council in 1974-75. Harry Maley retired from Council in 1987.

Devlin, Robert William Doyle OAM

(13/7/1967-24/9/1983)



R.W. (Bob) Devlin has the honour to be one of the longest serving Mayors. He was elected to council in 1959 and continued until becoming Mayor in 1967, following the death of Monty Bennett. Becoming Mayor at 40, Bob was one of the youngest men Holroyd has had as Mayor.

Bob Devlin and his brother took over their father's business upon his death, and saw it grow into a flourishing hardware business located in Centenary Road. His family connections with Holroyd go back further to his grandmother, who was one of the first women hotel licensees at Merrylands.

Alderman Bob Devlin retired after devoting almost a quarter of a century to Holroyd.

Bennett, Montague James MBE

(13/12/1955-10/7/1967)



Alderman Montague (Monty) James Bennett was first elected to council on March 11 1944 and served as Alderman and Mayor continuously for 23 years. An accountant by profession, he retired to devote himself to public office. The Queen awarded him an MBE for his public service. A devout Anglican, Alderman Bennett taught Sunday school classes at St. Paul's Church of England for more than 40 years. Monty Bennett died in office in 1967.

Maunder, George Ernest

(5/1/1932-6/12/1932, 5/12/1933-4/12/1934, 16/9/1941-22/12/1947, 12/12/1950-13/12/1955)



George Maunder served 37 years as an Alderman on Holroyd Council, 14 of them as Mayor and almost as many in the role of Deputy Mayor. He lived for 20 years in Westmead and the previous 47 years in Jordan Street Wentworthville. He ran a newsagency for 17 years when newspapers cost one penny! Maunder Avenue, Girraween is named in honour of George Maunder.

Campbell, William

(6/12/1932-5/12/1933, 7/12/1937-12/12/1939, 22/12/1947-2/12/1950)



In 1942 Holroyd Council boasted a strong and efficient National Emergency Service Organisation with 800 personnel. William Campbell, an Alderman at this time, served as Chief Warden. His contribution to Council over a long period saw him as Mayor on several occasions.

Thorburn, John Bennett

(12/12/1939-16/9/1941)

Jones, Frederick George Tucker

(6/7/1917-20/12/1921, 9/12/1930-5/1/1932, 8/12/1936-7/12/1937)

Warnock, Matthew

(4/12/1934-8/12/1936)

Rainbow, William Alfred

(10/12/1929-9/12/1930)

Bacon, John Spencer Bowman

(6/12/1928-10/12/1929)

Webb, Archibald John

(4/12/1923-1/12/1928)

Williams, John Arthur

(5/12/1922-4/12/1923)

Shaw, John Hamilton

(20/12/1921-5/12/1922)

John Hamilton Shaw was born in Sussex England in 1868, and moved to Sydney in 1887. After a long period in country Australia, Mr Shaw moved to Merrylands and formed a large business in 1905. Taking an active interest in local affairs, Mr Shaw was elected by the residents of Guildford Ward of Prospect and Sherwood Council in 1917, and presided as Mayor during Council's jubilee celebrations in 1922. He  remained an Alderman until his retired at the 1925 general election. John Shaw's retirement did not last long, successfully standing as a candidate at the next general election of the renamed Holroyd Municipal Council in 1928, remained an Alderman until he passed away in office, on 2 June 1934.

Donnelly, Robert

(1/3/1916-30/6/1917)

Robert Donnelly was born in Ireland, and was an alderman of Prospect & Sherwood Municipal Council, representing Pitt Ward between 1914 and 1917. His wife Frances, was a district nurse in Parramatta.

Mr Donnelly had been employed with the Railway Department for 43 years, without one day of sick leave. On the afternoon of Thursday 6 November 1924, Mr Donnelly and his men were working on repairs for a rail siding to McCorquodale's Flour Mill at Parramatta, when a truck skidded and trapped him against a retaining wall.

Mr Donnelly was rushed to Parramatta District Hospital, but despite being conscious, died as a result of his severe injuries the following morning, leaving a widow and three daughters (two sons pre-deceased him). Mr Donnelly was due to retire the following month.

Raymond Street, on the border of Holroyd and Parramatta City Councils was named after Robert and Frances' son Raymond who had been killed at Gallipoli.

Kelly, John

(1/3/1915-29/2/1916)

Brewer, George William

(1/3/1914-28/2/1915)

McCredie, Ludovic George Houston

(1/3/1912-28/2/1914)

Ringrose, George Davenport

(1/3/1910-29/2/1912)

Freame, William Henry George

(1/3/1909-28/12/1910)



William Freame was a local historian, mayor and staunch promoter of the Holroyd area. Born circa 1867 in Victoria, Freame was a painter by trade and during the 1890's Depression walked from Melbourne to Sydney in search of work. He eventually settled, with his wife and son, in Westmead, making a living as a freelance journalist.

Crowe, Benjamin Joshua

(1/3/1908-28/2/1909)

Pavesi, Pietro Antonio

(1/3/1907-29/2/1908)



Pietro (Peter) Antonio Pavesi was born in 1848 in Tortona, Northern Italy. He arrived in Sydney in 1882 and was naturalised as an Australian citizen on 24 July 1900. He was married to Margaret Jones in 1893. After his death in 1919, he was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

Pavesi Street in Guildford is named after this mayor.

Soames, William Herbert

(10/2/1906-28/2/1907)

Shepherd, Charles

(11/2/1905-6/2/1906)

Miller, Hugh

(4/10/1902-11/2/1905)

Jones, Henry Tucker

(21/7/1875-12/2/1876, 18/2/1888-13/2/1889, 15/2/1899-15/2/1900, 7/2/1901-27/9/1902)

Born in London in 1833, Henry Tucker Jones' father was a cabinet-maker and exporter.  Henry had the opportunity of sailing on his father's export ships to Spain and Portugal, and nearly took sailing as a profession, studying navigation and spending 3 ½ years at sea, before returning to England and cabinet-making. On the verge of emigrating to the United States, the lure of gold changed his mind and he sailed to Melbourne, immediately heading for Castlemaine in 1854.  Lack of fortune and ill health forced Mr Jones from the gold fields and he moved to Sydney in 1855, once more working as a cabinet-maker.

Mr Jones married Eliza Jane Stone in 1856 and opened his own business in Church Street, Parramatta.   For seven years, Mr Jones became an artisan of some renown, being chosen as chief contractor for the New South Wales Government to supply furnishing and fittings for all principal departmental offices across the colony.  Mr Jones' business became so well established he purchased half an acre in Pitt Street, Sherwood (now Merrylands), building a factory and dwelling.  Business improved greatly and Mr Jones expanded his works further, purchasing between four and five acres, with frontages to Pitt, Young and Railway/Bowman Streets.  Mr Jones also supplied the fittings for the Jenolan Caves dining room.

Mr Jones stood at the first Council election for Prospect and Sherwood, narrowly missing out on being elected as a founding Alderman.  The following year Mr Jones was elected as an Auditor for Council, and was elected as an Alderman of Prospect and Sherwood Municipal Council in February 1875.  Ald Jones became Councils third Mayor five months later following the death of Ald John Good.  Alderman Jones held the position of Mayor on four separate occasions in four different decades, his final term cut short by his own untimely death, after complications from an operation.

Alderman Jones' son, Frederick George Tucker Jones followed him into municipal life, also holding positions of Alderman and Mayor.

Picture from The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate, September 13, 1902, p. 8.

Pearce, Edward Pascoe

(15/2/1900 - 5/2/1901)

Picture from publication Jubilee History of Parramatta 1861-1911

Muston, Thomas

(13/2/1889-3/3/1891, 6/2/1897-11/2/1899)

Noller, William Peter

(14/2/1895-6/2/1897)

Picture from publication Jubilee History of Parramatta 1861-1911

McCredie, George MLA

(4/2/1892-14/2/1895)

George McCredie bought land at Guildford in 1891 and built his residence, 'Linnwood'. Within a year of arrival, McCredie was mayor of The Municipality of Prospect and Sherwood. He later became a magistrate and in 1893 was voted into Parliament as member for Central Cumberland.

In 1900, McCredie was appointed to organise and administer quarantine and cleansing operations in the Sydney slums. He died in 1903, aged forty-five, leaving a wife and seven children.

Paton, Theophilus

(3/3/1891-4/2/1892)

Theophilus Paton was a landowner and grazier who resided in Parramatta. For the local election, Paton and his fellow aldermen at the time decided on the motto "Men, Sterling and Progressive", and the issues centred on roads, lighting and the like.

Booth, John

(12/2/1880 - 18/2/1888)

John Booth was a local grazier, who bred Durham Shorthorn cattle and Exmoor ponies, he won prizes for his grain at The Parramatta agricultural shows. He served as an Alderman on both the Prospect and Sherwood and Parramatta Councils. It is after his family that Boothtown, near the Greystanes area was named. Unfortunately in the 1890s depression the family lost their fine farm after the AJS bank crashed. John Booth died in 1900, and left a wife and seven children.

Pass, John William

(13/2/1879-12/2/1880)

Booth, Joseph

(13/2/1878-13/2/1879)

Joseph Booth was an alderman and mayor of both Prospect and Sherwood Municipal Council and Parramatta Borough Council.

Ald. Joseph Booth, brother of Ald. John Booth, was first elected to Prospect & Sherwood in August 1875 and remained on Council until his death on 12 December 1888.

Picture reproduced from the publication Parramatta:the Early Years.

Smith, Gilbert Hunter

(12/2/1876-5/12/1878)

Good, John

(9/2/1875-21/7/1875)

John Good was a founding alderman of Prospect and Sherwood Municipal Council from 1872, becoming the Council's second Mayor in 1875.  Alderman Good's mayoral term was cut short, being granted a leave of absence due to illness on 22 June 1875.  He died on 21 July 1875.

Ald Good was also an alderman and mayor of Parramatta Borough Council.

Picture reproduced from the publication Parramatta:the Early Years.

Holroyd, Dr Arthur Todd

(3/9/1872-9/2/1875)



Arthur Todd Holroyd was the first mayor of the city, which now bears his name. Born in London in 1806, the youngest of seven children, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Christ's College Cambridge. However, he chose to pursue a legal vocation instead and in 1842 was called to the Bar. In 1842 he migrated to New Zealand, and 2 years later arrived in Sydney. In October 1845 he was admitted to the New South Wales Bar.

Holroyd entered politics to represent Western Boroughs (Bathurst Plains and Carcoar) in the Legislative Council from 1851 to 1856 and returned to the new Assembly in 1856-57. In 1861 he re-entered the assembly as Member for Parramatta.

For some time he acted as judge of New South Wales Supreme Court.

In March 1855, Holroyd acquired a large portion of William Sherwin's grant at Merrylands West and called his property Sherwood Scrubs. In 1878 Holroyd established the Great Western Steam Brick and pottery works.

On July 5 1872 the Municipality of Prospect and Sherwood was incorporated, with Dr Arthur Todd Holroyd as its mayor.