Charles Swinbourne

Charles Swinbourne lived in Cambridge Street in the 1890s.  From 1894 to 1898 he lived at 25 Cambridge Street and then he moved down the hill to take up residence at 55 Cambridge Street until the early 1900s.  The Sands Directory doesn't give much more information than that, apart from the fact that by 1900 he was listed as 'Swinbourne Charles, J.P." This last fact is confirmed by the SMH of 21 October 1899 listing Charles Swinbourne of 55 Cambridge Street Paddington in the roll of the magistrates of the colony of New South Wales that had been recently gazetted (JPs actually had a few powers and responsibilities back then and could sit in court for small matters unlike the "mere witnessing machines" they were to become by 1920s, that quote was a complaint of JPs back in the 20s).

In looking up Charles' details on Trove there is reference to a Charles Richard Swinbourne who was an Alderman of the Botany Municipality from 1888 to 1892 and Mayor from 1891 to 1892.  He was apparently instrumental in setting up the municipality and is likely the same Charles Swinbourne who took over the Banks Meadow Store in 1886 as referenced in the following advert from the SMH in June of that year.

Usually I would think that it was a coincidence but Charles Swinbourne is unique enough of a name to make me think that it could be the same person.  You can double check this in the Sands Directory because in addition to the suburb listing they have a section which then lists everyone alphabetically where I confirmed my hunch that there was only one Charles Swinbourne around town in those days, and it looks like he also had a wool scouring business in Botany as well.  Charles Swinbourne was also convinced to run for NSW parliament in 1898 for the seat of Botany.  You can actually find the results of all old elections online, here is the link to the 1898 Botany election.  There were 1,802 formal votes cast in the election, Swinbourne receiving 465 of them (26% of the vote).  It was first past the post back then and the Labor candidate won with only 568 votes.  Swinbourne, running as a National Federal, was hurt by the two independent federalist who combined for 248 votes between them, effectively costing the Federalists the seat.  The overall NSW election of 1898 was won by the Free Trade Party of Sir George Reid with only 33% of the vote.  The National Federalists received 43% of the state vote and the Labor Party 12%.  The National Federalists were led at the 1898 election by Edmund Barton (later to be Australia's 1st Prime Minister).  He was challenged by Reid to contest the seat of East Sydney, which Reid won.  Francis Clarke was then required to vacate his seat of Hastings so that Barton could win the by-election and return to Parliament.  Whilst campaigning as the National Federalists they were otherwise known as the Protectionists.  Anyway, whilst I am sure you will agree this political history lesson is an interesting sidebar when do we get back to Swinbourne?  Well, following is an extract account of a Swinbourne rally of July 1898 which gives some more details of his background.  He gives the impression that he is not a resident of the area but a businessman and large employer of labour in the district.  To me, this is consistent with him living on Cambridge Street in the fancy Langlo (or Glenelg as it was then known).  Also, given his aspirations for public office in 1898 it is conceivable that he decided to become a JP in 1899.