Allen Taylor

Sir Allen Arthur Taylor (13 May 1864 – 30 September 1940) was an Australian businessman and New South Wales state politician who was Lord Mayor of Sydney, Mayor of Annandale and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Early years and background Allen Arthur Bate was born in Wagga Wagga, Colony of New South Wales, on 13 May 1864, the fourth child of John Bate, a bricklayer from Worcestershire, England, and his wife Martha Jane King.

For unknown reasons, Allen changed his surname from 'Bate' to 'Taylor' sometime between 1890 and 1895. He would remain on the council until 1907 and Taylor Street in Annandale now bears his name. Taylor, while still an alderman for Annandale, was elected to Sydney City Council for Pyrmont Ward on 1 December 1902. After its formation in 1920, he was a member of the Civic Reform Association. On 25 July 1911, he was made a Knight Bachelor for his service as Lord Mayor, on the occasion of King George V's coronation. In early May 1912, Taylor resigned as Lord Mayor owing to the 'strains of office'. Popular while in office, on his resignation the Sydney Morning Herald noted that Taylor as Lord Mayor had: "thus proved himself to be a man of fine capacity. His long views have been singularly well balanced by business acumen, as numerous resumption negotiations have shown. His municipal ideals have had for centre and substance the foundation of Sydney as a city worthy of its great future. His retirement is a public loss, but for himself personally is the consolation that he will carry with him into private life the esteem of the whole community."

In July 1912 Taylor was given a life appointment to the New South Wales Legislative Council. However, with the abolition of life appointments and the introduction of indirect elections to the council in 1933, Taylor was elected as a member on 5 December 1933.

He eventually returned, however, when he was elected on 1 December 1915 to serve on Bourke Ward. He served on council until he resigned on 30 November 1924. Following the death of Lady Taylor in May 1924, Taylor remarried on 29 December 1926 to Linda Turner Hawkes, née Carter. Taylor also served the community as a director of the Benevolent Society of New South Wales from 1909 to 1913 and of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1916 to 1936. On 30 September 1940, survived by his second wife and son, Taylor died at his home in Lang Road, Centennial Park and was buried in South Head Cemetery.