Alfred WALTERS (c.1828-1902)

Chairman, Campbelltown District Council, 2nd March – 30th June, 1868 (Woodforde Ward).

Alfred Walters had previously been elected to the Payneham District Council, Woodforde Ward, in 1866. His father Samuel Walters was also a Payneham District Councillor, having been elected to that Council in 1858. Alfred Walters became one of the inaugural Councillors of Campbelltown District Council, when it separated from Payneham on 26th February 1868, soon afterwards he was appointed its inaugural Chairman.

Walters served as Chairman of the Campbelltown District Council for only four months from 2nd March 1868 to 30th June 1868, concluding his term at the end of the 1868 financial year. He remained a Councillor until 30th June 1870, serving a total of 2 years and 4 months on behalf of Woodforde Ward.

The historian Elizabeth Warburton wrote that “during the Campbelltown separation debate in December 1867, Councillor Alfred Walters supported Councillor Stephen Amber in proposing that the new district be named Athelstone. The numbers were against them there, but at the first meeting of the Campbelltown District Council, Councillor Amber successfully proposed Councillor Walters as Chairman."

The first meeting of the Campbelltown District Council on 2nd March 1868, was held at the Paradise Bridge Hotel. It must have been quite a raucous event, as the “Council resolved unanimously that in consequence of repeated interruptions to business, probably due to the popularity of the hotel’s beer, the future meeting of the Council be held at the Reservoir Hotel, Thorndon Park”. It was also resolved that “the first man who interrupts Council business or insults a councillor in the room of the hotel shall be prosecuted”. A notice to this effect was posted in the bar.

Alfred Walters came to South Australia with his parents Samuel Walters (1804-1889) and Ruth Walters (1800-1875) and his two brothers Samuel Grosvenor and William in December 1849 on the ship Constant. Alfred Walters was the eldest of the three sons and the family lived at Grosvenor Cottage on the corner of Stradbroke and Montacute Roads, Rostrevor. They also leased nearby Sections 96 and 857, later known as Rostrevor Park. Alfred managed Section 857, which had access to Fourth Creek.

The family left Grosvenor Cottage in the late 1880s and Alfred lived in Magill until his death. He was involved in the community, becoming a member of the Athelstone Institute building committee, one of its first Trustees, and in 1872 the Secretary of the Athelstone Institute. It was reported that he donated an 1853 edition of Shakespeare’s works to the Magill Institute Library in March 1902.

Alfred Walters, who never married, died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on 31 August 1902, aged 73 years, and was buried at St George’s Anglican Cemetery, Magill.

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

WARBURTON, Elizabeth (1986) "From the river to the hills: Campbelltown 150 years." The Corporation of the City of Campbelltown, Campbelltown (S. Aust.), page 225.

LEANEY, John T. (1968) “Campbelltown 1868 – 1968.” The Corporation of the City of Campbelltown, Campbelltown (S. Aust.), page 21.

The South Australian Advertiser 3 September 1872 page 3 Trove: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28688382

The Register Monday 24th March 1902 page 6 Trove: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55663903