William Williams

Northcote Mayor (1916-17)

William Williams served as mayor of Northcote during the First World War - 1916/17.

Before he was elected to Council, he had criticised the Council in the local press for spending 800 pounds on the land which is now Batman Park which he referred to as "a bog-hole". Not long after he was elected Mayor, the Government announced a referendum on conscription, which caused Council meetings to be very lively. The meeting in October 1916 was so tumultuous that, having had such difficulty in controlling it, he abandoned it.

Lemon, Andrew (1983). The Northcote Side of the River. North Melbourne: Hargreen.