Date of Birth: 01/01/1831
Place of Birth: Essex, England
Date of Death: 15/11/1893
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Agricultural Society of New South Wales Lease Bill Committee No.9 |
05 Dec 1889 |
10 Dec 1889 |
6 days |
|
| Member for West Sydney |
02 Feb 1889 |
06 Jun 1891 |
2 years 4 months 5 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
02 Feb 1889 |
06 Jun 1891 |
2 years 4 months 5 days |
|
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Shipping butcher. Joined navy at age 12. Became a captain's and wardrobe steward. Arrived in Sydney and entered into a wholesale butchering partnership. Purchased real estate in city and North Sydney. Associated with efforst for improved water supply, slum clearance and sanitary reform. Instrumental in establishing saleyards at Homebush. Acquired much real estate in the city and North Sydney. His second son Edmund inherited the business.
Honours Received
In his memory a fountain was erected at the Flemington saleyards in May 1896 and in 1960 a plaque was placed on the doors of Holy Trinity Church, Millers Point. Playfair Street and Playfair Stairs had already been named after him.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman of the Sydney City Council for Gipps Ward, 1 December 1875 - 15 November 1893. Mayor 1885.
Personal
Son of Thomas Playfair, tailor and Mary Anne Arnold. Married (1) Ellen Matheson on 7 November 1860 at Woolloomooloo and had issue 2 sons. Widowered. Married (2) Georgina Hope (his deceased wife's sister) on 26 February 1867 at Scots Church in Sydney and had issue, 1 daughter and 1 son. Widowered. Church of England. Buried in the Anglican section of Waverley cemetery.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5.
