James Dillon

James Dillon was a one time Mayor of Paddington (1893) and was a long time alderman on council (1880s to 1910s) representing our own Middle Ward.  He was also one of the biggest landlords on Cambridge Street back in the day, owning at least 13 properties on the street.

From the Paddington rate books it appears Dillon owned the following properties in 1890:
- the row of terraces 36 to 40 Cambridge Street;
- 42 Cambridge Street (purchased after he had already owned 36 to 40);
- the row of terraces from 61 to 69 Cambridge Street (known as Aberdeen Villas);
- the row of terraces from 2 to 6 Cambridge Street;
- and the shop on the corner of Cambridge and Gurner that is now Form and Colour (36 Gurner Street, it was included in the Cambridge Street section of the rate book).

I have a reprint copy of the very interesting publication 'Paddington: Its history, trade and industries 1860-1910' which was published by the council to celebrate 50 years of the municipality.  The photo above is from that book, it shows the jubilee committee with Alderman Dillon in the centre.  The book also has a biography of Alderman Dillon which I have copied below as it is hard to find anything online about this guy who obviously leant his name to Dillon Street.

"Mr. Dillon has been in office as Alderman for 23 years continuously with a slight exception of about six weeks. He was Mayor during the year 1893. This was the year when much distress prevailed amongst all classes in consequence of the bank and building societies' failures. The distress was widespread and was so keenly felt by many residents of Paddington that the Council rented a house in Glenmore Road, and the Alderman and others worked most assiduously in collecting food which was cooked by their wives and other ladies and distributed to the poor. During that same year the first and only public meeting that has been held on Centennial Park was convened for the purpose of taking steps to assist the Queensland Floods Relief Fund. Sir George Dibbs was Premier, and granted the use of the park for a Sunday afternoon for that purpose. There was an immense gathering there, and the people were very sympathetic. Notwithstanding the fact that there was no allowance for the Mayor at that time, as there is since the Local Government Act came into operation, it must have proved an expensive year with Mr. Dillon, who, under such trying conditions, was often called to assist these and other charitable objects that were so common at that time. Before he was elected to Council he was a strong advocate for bringing the Botany water from Sydney into the district. He was also the instigator of the proposal to have a sewer constructed in Boundary Street, which conveyed a large quantity of sewerage matter from portion of Surry Hills, prior to which the creek there (Lacrosia Creek) was a vile, filthy stream. Sir William Lyne, who was Premier at the time, resumed whatever land was necessary for the purpose, and the Government carried out the work. Mr. Dillon is a very large property-owner, and seems to delight in being able to give good employment to workmen whenever opportunity occurs."