Stratton, William Henry
William Henry STRATTON (1881-1953)
First elected to Campbelltown Council in 1928, remaining a Councillor until 1934 (Woodforde Ward).
From 1935-1947 he was an elected member of the Hindmarsh Council and Mayor of Hindmarsh from July 1939 – June 1941.
Born in 1881, William Henry Stratton, junior, enlisted for the Boer War in 1902. From April to July 1902 he served in the Western Australian 4th Australian Commonwealth Horse Brigade. He married Emily Wells Barber in Perth, Western Australia, in 1905. From 1915-1939 he and his wife Emily were licensees for a number of hotels in Adelaide, including:
- 1915-1920 Reservoir Hotel, Thorndon Park
- 1924 Gasworks hotel, Brompton
- 1927-1930 Tower Hotel, Magill
- 1934-39 Emily Wells Stratton, licensee for the Commercial Hotel, Hindmarsh
An article published in the “Sport” newspaper (Adelaide, SA), describes his popularity when he took over the Tower Hotel. As the label describes, he also bottled his own beer.
“Mr. William Stratton, jun., is now in possession of this popular hotel, and he is certainly the type of licensee required to keep up the status of the trade. That is what is keeping up the reputation of this much abused business so well to-day. The type of landlord being one of the first considerations of the wholesale trade and the Licensing Benches. Mr. Stratton kept the Gasworks Hotel at Brompton as well as others, and is also well known and popular in the decorating and building circles.
He played cricket and football, as well as following boxing and swimming actively as a young fellow. His main hobby now is junior football, being for some years a supporter of the Magill and other eastern suburban junior football teams. The Tower Hotel possesses large, airy, well furnished rooms. The accommodation is superb under the management of Mrs. Stratton and her daughter, while young William Stratton is an obliging attendant in the front bar.
This house provides afternoon tea, and is a most enjoyable ride in the tram or motor drive from the city being surrounded by beautiful scenery and adjacent to the celebrated Morialta Falls. Mr. Stratton is a member of the Ancient Order of Druids and Marryatville. Lodge of the Order of Buffaloes. He will be pleased for a call from any old friends.”1
From 1929 until his death in 1953 William was a Justice of the Peace and he sat on the Magistrates Court much of the time he was a Campbelltown Councillor. From 1933-34 he held a Bookmakers licence and from 1934 to his death in 1953, he described his occupation as a land agent. He held a range of positions in the community such as a member of the Country Board of Health and a member of the Metropolitan Abattoirs Board.2
Three of William’s brothers were killed in the First World War – Ben aged 22, Leslie aged 24 and Walter aged 28. A fourth brother, Alfred died in 1915 in Adelaide age 27. Tragically William’s youngest son, Alfred, died in Italy in 1943 during the Second World War.
Researched and compiled by Di Booker, volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au
References
- Sport (Adelaide, SA) 28 January 1927 page 16. Trove: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215971789
- News (Adelaide, SA) 8 July 1953, page 3. Trove: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134210795