A. B. Mason

Northcote Mayor (1915 - 1916)

Alexander Brown Mason was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1864.

His parents were originally both from Perthshire in Scotland but met up and married in Melbourne before trying their luck in the gold rush in New Zealand.

Alexander moved to Melbourne around 1885 to pursue his career as an upholsterer. During his early years in Northcote he became known as a temperance worker advocating abstinence from alcohol and was a long term member of the Independent Order of Rechabites. 

He was also a keen advocate of military conscription, supporting the A.N.A.’s (Australian Natives Association) campaign to introduce compulsory military enlistment in Australia.

He played an active role in the welfare of Northcote and attended the very first meeting to consider a Progress Association for the town. He was Chairman of the Public Works and Electric Light commitees.

In 1911 he was voted in as a councillor for the South Ward and, due to the respect he earned for his work, was unanimously voted in as Mayor in 1915. He remained a councillor until his death in 1918.

Alexander Brown Mason was involved in local politics at a very exciting time and attended celebrations as Northcote was proclaimed a city and witnessed the turning on of electric lighting in the city, both events happening in 1914.

NORTHCOTE'S NEW MAYOR. (1915, September 4). Northcote Leader (Northcote, Vic. : 1882 - ), p. 2.

NORTHCOTE DECLARED A CITY (1914, June 6). Weekly Times (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 30.

CONSCRIPTION. (1916, May 8). The Argus  (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 8