William Grills Knight Explained

William Grills Knight (23 January 1839 3 May 1903) was a prominent businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

Knight was born 23 January 1839 in Fremantle, Western Australia to Stephen Henry Knight, a postmaster who had arrived on Parmelia in 1829 as one of the first settlers. The family moved to Albany the following year.[1]

He married Ann Augusta McKail and together they had four children.[2] In 1865 Knight was working as a farmer and grazier at Woodlands, a farm owned by John McKail, in the Porongurups.[3]

The Rocks, an iconic building in Albany, was built by Grills in 1882 as his residence. The building, now used as an exclusive hotel, is heritage listed.[4] [5]

First elected in 1876 Knight then served as chairman from 1877 to 1879.[1] Knight remained on the council[6] and was elected as Mayor of Albany in 1886.[7]

While Mayor, Knight raised the required capital to build the Albany Town Hall in 1886,[8] which he later opened in 1888.[9] By 1889 Lancel Victor de Hamel was elected Mayor,[10] with Knight remaining on the council[11] until his re-election as Mayor in 1897.[12] He remained as Mayor until 1899 when C. M. McKenzie was elected to the position.[13]

In 1896, Knight and his son started a shipping and station agents business in Albany.[14]

Knight died in Albany on 4 May 1903 and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Death of Mr. W. G. Knight, J.P. . . Albany, Western Australia . 6 May 1903 . 26 December 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  2. Web site: Knight, Ann Augusta (Gussie) (nee McKail) (1840 - 1904). 19 January 2015. 26 December 2015. Australian National Herbarium.
  3. Web site: William Grills Knight. Great Southern Pioneers. 26 December 2015.
  4. Web site: The rocks, Albany. 26 December 2015. Luxury Australia.
  5. Web site: The Rocks. 8 February 2015. 26 December 2015. Heritage Council of Western Australia.
  6. News: Classified Advertising. . . Perth . 9 October 1884 . 26 December 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Government Gazette . . Perth . 13 August 1886 . 26 December 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  8. Web site: History. 26 December 2015. City of Albany.
  9. Web site: Albany Town Hall, 217 York Street, corner Grey Street West. 26 December 2015. Albany Gateway.
  10. News: Albany . . Perth . 24 January 1889 . 26 December 2015 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: General News . . Perth . 13 October 1891 . 26 December 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: The Advertiser. . . Albany, Western Australia . 6 November 1897 . 26 December 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: Country News . . Perth . 13 January 1899 . 26 December 2015 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Advertising. . . Kalgoorlie, Western Australia . 28 July 1896 . 26 December 2015 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  15. Web site: Albany Memorial Cemetery. 26 December 2015. 2008. Lorraine Larment.

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