Grave tales – East Ballina Cemetery

High on the hill, with a magnificent view of the surf rolling onto Shelly Beach, is the monument to William Webster. The ornate celtic cross that marks the grave is carved in white marble. It stands over three metres tall, far higher than any other monument in the cemetery.

The obituary published in The Richmond River Herald, gives a clue to the immense contribution William made to the community of Ballina and the establishment of the town. It states, ‘one who had seen the rose and progress of the district for the past 54 years, who had consistently thrown in his lot with the workers for the public weal and who had done as much or more then any other man of his time for the advancement of the town where he lived.’

William was born in 1845 at Llangollen station, Casillis, near the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. In 1853 the family moved to the Richmond River area where his father worked as a butcher. William learnt the trade of butchering and worked in the timber industry.

In 1870 William, at age 25, married Ann Taylor. They had nine children. The family moved to Ballina in 1890 where William purchased a butcher store from James Bryant. Ann passed away on 25 Apr 1891. A year later William married Annie Maria Moore, 19 years his junior. Annie was the sister of the publican of the Freemason’s Hotel in Lismore. They had four children.

In 1896 William gained the publican license for the Australian Hotel in Ballina after constructing the building on land he purchased on his arrival in Ballina. The Australian Hotel was recognised as one of the leading hotels on the Richmond River.

A year later he was elected as an alderman to Ballina Shire Council and later became Mayor. He fought to establish a water supply, implemented harbour works, added a creamery, fire brigade, hospital and jockey club.

He died on 22 Jan 1910 at age 65. A large cortege followed his remains to the cemetery for his burial service. He is buried with his second wife Annie and his son William John Webster.

Grave Tales are researched from online records available from NSW Births Deaths and Marriages, Australian Electoral Rolls, NSW Police Gazette, Trove, National Archives of Australia and NSW State Archives. The photo of William Webster was published in From The Webster Weavings, J.C Newman & M. Battis, Published 1997.