Charles Windeyer (1780-1855), magistrate, emigrated to Australia in 1828, having worked as a journalist, publisher and parliamentary reporter in London. On arrival in New South Wales, he took up a large grant of land in the Hunter Valley, but left the running of this property to one his sons and remained in Sydney to find work to support his large family. He was appointed chief clerk to the bench of magistrates and later to the position of assistant superintendent of police. In 1833 he was appointed second police magistrate for the town and port of Sydney and by 1839 was officially known as senior police magistrate. He was criticised by some as being too lenient but was generally regarded as a judicious and competent magistrate. He also worked as a commissioner for examining claims for crown lands and was appointed as Sydney's first mayor when it was incorporated as a city in 1842. Windeyer stood for election to the Legislative Council in 1843 but was unsuccessful. He retired in 1848.
Gift of the Windeyer family 2009
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