Mayor of Strathfield 1919, 1919-1920
Arthur Kessell (1866-1945) served as an Alderman on Strathfield Council from 1917 to 1944. He was elected at an ordinary Council election held in February 1917. He did not seek re-election in the 1944 election due to failing health. He died in 1945.
He was elected as Mayor on 11 February 1919 and was re-elected on 10 February 1920.
Kessell was born in Cornwell, England in 1866. He entered into a partnership, Hollingsdale and Kessell, jeweller and watchmaker in King Street Sydney c.1897. Kessell married Martha McMurtie. The couple had one daughter, Bettina.
Kessell lived at ‘Trelawney’ 5 Brunswick Street Strathfield until his death in 1945.
Following his death, the Mayor Colin Hudson stated that ‘throughout his long term of service to the public, Alderman Kessell had carried out his duties fearlessly and thus earned the respect of the community. The many valuable contributions he had made in matters of policy had borne fruit and that as a result Strathfield occupied a position pre-eminent in the Local Government NSW. Those who had been fortunate enough to have been associated with him in his private and public life had also admired his high ideals and integrity’.
Kessell Avenue Homebush West and Kessell Square Strathfield are named for him.
References
Advertising (1897, April 17). The Australian Star (Sydney, NSW : 1887 – 1909), p. 4. Retrieved September 19, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227209745
Strathfield Council (1945 November 6), Minutes of Council meeting.
