Peter Slater and Elizabeth Slater
Mayor Peter Slater and Mayoress Elizabeth Slater
Northcote Mayor (1922-1923)
Peter James Slater was born in 1878. He grew and in Clifton Hill. He was educated at All Saints’ Grammar School and later studied business. He moved to Northcote in 1902 to work in the drapery Hattam & Hattam in High Street Northcote (now 275 and 277). The same year, he married Elizabeth Jane Hattam, who is the sister of his business partner, John Hattam. The drapery was later named Hattam & Slater.
For 13 years, he was secretary of the Northcote Presbyterian Church. He was also the president of the Northcote Presbyterian Boys’ Club. 26 of his 40 members went out to the First World War. He was Vice Chairman and committee member of the YMCA Wardrop House. He was vice-president and treasurer of the pennant bowls club in Thornbury and supported the Boys Club there.
Peter Slater was on the Northcote Park Management Committee, the Northcote Free Library Committee and the Soldier’s Memorial Hall Committee. He entered council in 1919 and became chairman of the finance committee. In 1922 he was elected Mayor of Northcote. The annual allowance was raised from £120 to £200. During the meeting, Cr. Sutch nominated Cr. Slater for office of mayor. Cr. Glanfield seconded. Cr. Harry nominated Cr. Turner. Eight were in favour of Cr. Slater and seven in favour of Cr. Turner. Cr. McDonell declared Cr. Slater the elected mayor of Northcote.
The retiring mayor hoped Cr. Slater’s term in office would be a pleasant one and that he would witness a considerable advance in the growth of the city. Cr. Slater thanked the councillors and said he would follow the steps of his predecessors and act fairly to all. He would act out his responsibilities in a business-like way with dignity and honour.
In his speech, he said that when he moved to Northcote 20 years earlier, High Street was not much more than a “bush road”. Now there were shops from end to end. He hoped to keep up with demand to make more roads and light more streets with electric lighting.
He continued to work in the draper after his term as mayor.
Peter passed away in 1940.
The Mayoress Elizabeth Jane Slater
Elizabeth Jane Slater (neé Hattam) was born in 1874 in Daylesford. She married her brother’s business partner Peter Slater in 1902. At the time of her husband’s rise to mayorship, she was actively immersed in the community. She was involved with the Ladies Benevolent Society, The Dorcas Society and The District Nursing Society.
She was the president of the Northcote Baby Health Centre. The honourable secretary was Mrs. Dennis, and the treasurer was Mr. W. G. Swift. Sister Bowe was sister-in-charge.
She was a vice president and delegate to the welfare committee of the Northcote Red Cross Auxiliary. The committee had raised a large sum of money for the Women’s Hospital. In a meeting in 1923, she presented a certificate of life governorship of that institution.
After Cr. Slater’s term as mayor, Elizabeth Slater became the District Commissioner of the Northcote Girl Guides, which formed in 1924. She was heavily involved in the Girl Guides, particularly in helping set up a group in Preston in 1927.
Elizabeth Slater passed away in 1958.
Sources
City of Northcote. Election of Mayor. Allowance raised to £200. (1922, September 2), The Northcote Leader., p.2
Girl Guides’ Fete (1925, September 19), The Age, p.20
Personal. Northcote’s New Mayor. (1922, September 2), The Northcote Leader, p.3.
Sands and McDougall’s Melbourne and Suburban Directory 1864- 1974. [Microfiche]. (1974). Melbourne, Australia: Sands & McDougall.
The New Mayor. Congratulation in the Council Chamber. (1922, September 2). The Northcote Leader. p.6
Victorian Baby Centres Association (1922). Fifth Annual Report of Central Council 1922-1923. Cook and Heathcote Printers.
Woman’s Realm. (1923, September 18). The Argus, p14.