By Cathy Jones 2010, revised 2020
Ebenezer Ford (d.1932) was a prominent resident of Strathfield and long serving Mayor and Alderman on Enfield Council.
Ford resided at ‘Amaroo’ Wakeford Road Strathfield. He was a builder by profession and was extensively involved in land and property development in Enfield and parts of Strathfield, developing most of the Broadway (Enfield) shopping centre and estates such as the Mintaro Estate.
Ford served as an Alderman on Enfield Council for over 20 years and he was Mayor for 12 years (1915-17, 1920-29). Ford was proud of his record of never missing a Council meeting, until his final illness in 1932. Enfield Council resolved at a meeting of 10 December 1929 that:
A “Mayor’s Minute be received and adopted, and that the Common Seal of the Council be attached to a letter to be written to Mr. Alderman E. Ford expressing the appreciation of the members of the Council for the public service rendered by him during his various terms of office of Mayor of this Municipality, extending from 9th February 1915 to 4th July 1917 and from 3rd February 1920 to 6th December 1929”.
His obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald notes he was president of the Western Suburbs Hospital and had been a member of the board for about 15 years. He was president of the Burwood District Friendly Societies Dispensary for over 20 years. Ford was survived by his wife, daughters Mrs T M Stevenson and Miss M F Ford and his son Emil Ford.
Emil Ford was a solicitor, who established law firm Emil Ford & Co in 1917 and lived at ‘Telehra’ Wakeford Road Strathfield. Harvey Ford, Mayor of Strathfield [1965-66], was the son of Emil Ford and the grandson of Ebenezer Ford. Ford Park at Strathfield South is named for Ebenezer Ford.
References
Enfield Council, Council Meeting Minutes, 10 December 1929
SEVENTH TERM (1922, December 6). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931), p. 12. Retrieved August 1, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118818091
ALDERMAN E. FORD. (1932, August 27). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), p. 17. Retrieved August 1, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16901107
Photo credit
Photo of Ebenezer Ford is from Evening News 1922 (see reference).
Strathfield Heritage 