Cyril Barling

Preston Mayor (1939 - 1940)

Cyril Barling was born in Clifton Hill in 1894.  During the First World War he served with the A.I.F.  He was a founder of the Regent Central Progress Association and served on the Advisory Committees of both Northcote High School and Preston Technical College.

In 1935 he was elected to Preston Council, becoming Mayor in 1939.  During his term he helped Council aquire two new sports fields, Ruthven Park and Moore Park.  He also was responsible for rezoning land in East Preston and North West Preston for industrial use. 

After retiring from Council, Barling devoted his time to PANCH, serving as President of the Board of Management in 1951-52 and Treasurer from 1956 to 1959.

Barling also found time to forward a proposal for a third university in Melbourne.  As a result Bundoora was selected as a suitable site and LaTrobe University was subsequently opened in 1967.

Barling died in 1981.  The C.T. Barling Reserve in Plenty Road, Reservoir was named after him.

Death index Victoria 1921-1985 : index to deaths in Victoria [CD-ROM]. (1998). Melbourne, Australia: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Federation Index Victoria 1889-1901 : index to births, deaths and marriages in Victoria [CD-ROM]. (1997). Melbourne, Australia: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Preston Historical Society. (1968). Brief biographies of prominent Preston People. Preston, Vic: Author.