Alfred John Stephenson, Mayor, 1907, 1914, Ipswich, n.d. (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
Alfred John Stephenson was elected Mayor of Ipswich in 1907 and 1914, and served as a councillor in 1902-1906 and 1908-1914. Born in London in 1845, Stephenson was educated at a private academy. He made his way as a young man to Australia and Ipswich by the time he was 15 years. He was apprenticed as a young man to the ‘North Australian’ newspaper as a compositor and was transferred to the ‘Ipswich Herald’ when the proprietors acquired this newspaper. Remaining with the company when it became the ‘Queensland Times, he would later become Chairman of Directors.
Alfred John Stephenson married Miss Jane Tully in 1867 and they had four sons and five daughters. Alfred Tully, the eldest son would follow in his father’s political footsteps. Mrs Stephenson passed away in 1909.
Along with being President of the Ipswich Hospital Board of Management 1895 – 1903, Alfred John Stephenson also served on the governing bodies of Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and the Technical College, was a director at one time of the Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company, Limited and the Ipswich and West Moreton, Permanent Benefit Investment and Building Society. He was elected member for Ipswich in the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1896 and re-elected in 1899. Mr Stephenson was a District Grand Master of the English Freemasons in Queensland and while travelling extensively with the group contacted malarial fever which he never fully recovered from. Travelling home to London in 1911, he was welcomed by high officials and distinguished members of the English Masonic assemblies.
Alfred John Stephenson married for a second time in 1914 to Charlotte Lee Smith.
He had been re-elected in 1914 as Mayor of Ipswich again. He passed away at his home “Chermside”, 30 Roderick Street, Ipswich in 1914.
Alfred Tully Stephenson, Mayor, 1912, 1921 – 1929, 1933 – 1938, Ipswich, n.d. (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
The eldest son of Alfred John Stephenson, Alfred Tully Stephenson was Mayor of Ipswich for nearly 15 years. He served as Mayor in 1912, 1921 – 1929, 1933 – 1938, and served as an Alderman from 1910–1938. Born in Ipswich in 1872, he was educated at the Ipswich Central Boys School and the Ipswich Grammar School respectively. Upon leaving school he was awarded a position at the Bank of Australasia in Ipswich and later was employed by the Queensland Times as an accountant where his father also worked as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Alfred Tully married Miss Ellen (Nellie) O’Brien in 1903 and they had two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1937 and his daughter Miss Gem Stephenson took over the Mayoress’ role.
Early on in his political career when he was Mayor in 1912, his father Alfred John Stephenson served as an alderman on the council under him and then later, he, Alfred Tully served as an alderman while his father Alfred John Stephenson was Mayor of Ipswich in 1914.
He was a member of the executive of the Queensland Local Authorities Association, of the Ipswich Hospitals Board, Ipswich Technical College committee, School of Arts committee, and secretary of the Ipswich Traders’ Association and the Ipswich Fire Brigade. He was also chairman of the Ipswich Girls Central School and vice-president of the Ipswich Railway Rifle Club, vice-president and life member of the Ipswich Amateur Turf Club and vice-president of the Ipswich Model Band. He was trustee of the City Vice Regal Band, and the North Ipswich Cricket Reserve and a director of the Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. A keen follower of local sport, he played with the Limestone Cricket Club.
Alfred Tully Stephenson was the Mayor of Ipswich when he passed away in a private hospital in September, 1938, aged 64.
(Information taken from ‘City of Ipswich’ and the Ipswich City Council website 14-10-2016; The Queensland Times 4 April, 1936; The Queensland Times 30 September, 1938; The Courier Mail 30 September, 1938; The Northern Herald 1 October, 1938; The Ipswich Hospital 1860-1991 by Ross Patrick, Boolarong/Ipswich Hospital: 1993; The Queensland Times 30 March, 1909; The Week 10 July, 1914; The Warwick Examiner and Times 5 December, 1914; Ancestry Library.com)