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A history of our Council

1. Key Dates

This section outlines the dates the Council was renamed, amalgamated or split.

5 December 1906 - First Mayor of Shire of Cessnock elected.

22 October 1926 - Cessnock Shire split into Cessnock Municipality and Cessnock Shire.

2 November 1926 - Cessnock Shire renamed Kearsley Shire.

21 September 1956 -Kearsley Shire and Cessnock Municipality amalgamated.

21 September 1956 - Amalgamated councils named Greater Cessnock Municipal Council.

1 August 1958 - Greater Cessnock Municipal Council renamed City of Greater Cessnock.

1 April 1984 - City of greater Cessnock renamed City of Cessnock.

2. A History of Mayors

The tables below outline a history of the mayors elected under each Council since 5 October 1906.

Shire of Cessnock

ELECTED	PRESIDENT	DEPUTY PRESIDENT
05/12/1906	George BROWN
13/02/1908	George BROWN
02/02/1909	George BROWN	Roger MCNAMARA
08/02/1910	George BROWN
07/02/1911	William MORGAN
13/02/1912	Roger McNAMARA
05/02/1913	George EDWARDS
09/02/1914	Thomas JOHNS
13/02/1915	Thomas JOHNS
14/02/1916	William MORGAN
05/02/1917	Thomas JOHNS
30/04/1917	John BROWN
06/02/1918	Thomas JOHNS
10/02/1919	John Younie RUSSELL
23/02/1920	William MORGAN
13/12/1920	William MORGAN
05/12/1921	Thomas JOHNS
07/12/1922	John BROWN
13/12/1923	John BROWN
04/12/1924	James Robert SCOTT
06/12/1925	John BROWN (Administrator)
13/07/1925	John BROWN
07/01/1926	John BROWN (Administrator until 18/03/1927)
22/10/1926	Cessnock Shire split into Cessnock Municipality & Cessnock Shire
2/11/1926	Cessnock Shire re-named Kearsley Shire

Municipality of Cessnock

ELECTED	MAYOR	DEPUTY MAYOR	TOWN CLERK	DEPUTY TOWN CLERK
01/11/1926	John BROWN	David HUNTER
08/12/1927	Eugene O’NEILL	John BROWN
06/12/1928	David HUNTER	Alexander SNEDDON
12/12/1929	David HUNTER	Joseph H. SHAKESPEARE
09/12/1930	Joseph H. SHAKESPEARE	Daniel DIXON
10/12/1931	Joseph H. SHAKESPEARE	John BROWN
12/12/1932	Joseph H. SHAKESPEARE	George LOWE
07/12/1933	Robert Edward SMITH	Patrick Joseph RYAN
06/12/1934	John BROWN	Patrick Joseph RYAN
10/12/1935	George LOWE
08/12/1936	Samuel Henry Weston HORNE	Cecil Reginald SMYTH
09/12/1937	John BROWN	Robert Edward SMITH
06/12/1938	John BROWN	Robert Edward SMITH
05/12/1939	John BROWN	Robert Edward SMITH
03/12/1940	John BROWN	Edward J. ANSTEY
11/12/1941	George Ernest HEERY	Robert STANNERS
15/12/1942	Thomas McDONALD	George Ernest HEERY
14/12/1943	Edward PENDLEBURY	Thomas McDONALD
11/12/1944	John BROWN	Richard James DRINKWATER
04/12/1945	John BROWN	Francis H. JONES
10/12/1946	Frank Harcourt LOVETT	John BROWN
10/12/1947	John BROWN	Michael CAGNEY
09/12/1948	John BROWN	Henry George NEATE
06/12/1949	John BROWN	Alexander BAILLIE
12/12/1950	Frederick Charles HALLAM	Raymond Harry OLDFIELD
05/12/1951	Raymond Harry OLDFIELD	George FAIRLEIGH
03/12/1952	Cuthbert James RICHARDSON	Watson Cranton HANCOCK
09/12/1953	Henry George NEATE	Robert BROWN
07/12/1954	John Benjamin BARRETT	Robert BROWN
12/12/1955	James ALLAN	Robert BROWN	Frank T. STEIN	Walter Scott McLELLAN

Shire of Kearsley

ELECTED	PRESIDENT	DEPUTY PRESIDENT	SHIRE CLERK	DEPUTY SHIRE CLERK
24/03/1927	Albert BURNS
14/12/1927	Albert BURNS
06/12/1928	Albert BURNS
12/12/1929	Albert BURNS	William WRIGHT
04/12/1930	Albert BURNS	William WRIGHT
10/12/1931	William VARTY	John ROSE
15/12/1932	Albert Edward JOHNSON	Henry HOLLINGWORTH	William.J. GRIEVE
07/12/1933	John ROSE	Thomas David JOHNS	William.J. GRIEVE
06/12/1934	William VARTY	John ROSE	William.J. GRIEVE
19/12/1935	William VARTY	Andrew Eric COLLINS	Joseph William STEPHENSON
14/12/1936	William VARTY	Albert Edward JOHNSON	Joseph William STEPHENSON
08/12/1937	Phillip John SAXTON	William BAILEY	Joseph William STEPHENSON
22/12/1938	Phillip John SAXTON	Andrew Eric COLLINS	Joseph William STEPHENSON
19/12/1939	Phillip John SAXTON	William BAILEY	Joseph William STEPHENSON
17/12/1940	William BAILEY	William PALMER	Joseph William STEPHENSON
18/12/1941	William BAILEY	Albert Edward JOHNSON	Joseph William STEPHENSON
08/12/1942	Albert Edward JOHNSON	William VARTY	Joseph William STEPHENSON
14/12/1943	Phillip John SAXTON	Andrew Eric COLLINS	Joseph William STEPHENSON
12/12/1944	William VARTY	Allan Lincoln OPIE	Joseph William STEPHENSON
11/12/1945	William VARTY	Allan Lincoln OPIE	Joseph William STEPHENSON
18/12/1946	William VARTY	Allan Lincoln OPIE	Joseph William STEPHENSON
11/12/1947	Andrew Eric COLLINS	Albert Edward JOHNSON	Joseph William STEPHENSON
07/12/1948	Andrew Eric COLLINS	James Thomas BUTLER	Joseph William STEPHENSON
13/12/1949	Francis Russell McGOLDRICK	Thomas FELL	Joseph William STEPHENSON
06/12/1950	James Thomas BUTLER	Andrew Eric COLLINS	Joseph William STEPHENSON
12/12/1951	Phillip John SAXTON	Thomas FELL	Joseph William STEPHENSON
09/12/1952	Phillip John SAXTON	Albert Edward JOHNSON	Joseph William STEPHENSON
15/12/1953	Thomas FELL	Astley Stanton SLACK	Joseph William STEPHENSON
14/12/1954	Astley Stanton SLACK	Thomas FELL	Joseph William STEPHENSON
06/12/1955	William Stanley BLAIR	Thomas GLEGHORN	Joseph William STEPHENSON	Alfred EVANS

Municipality of Greater Cessnock

ELECTED	MAYOR	DEPUTY MAYOR	TOWN CLERK	DEPUTY TOWN CLERK
21/09/1956	Amalgamation of Cessnock Municipal Council & Kearsley Shire Council & re-named Greater Cessnock Municipal Council
18/10/1956	William Stanley BLAIR	Thomas GLEGHORN	Joseph William STEPHENSON	Walter Scott McLELLAN
11/12/1957	Thomas GLEGHORN	William Stanley BLAIR	Joseph William STEPHENSON	Walter Scott McLELLAN
31/07/1958	Thomas GLEGHORN	William Stanley BLAIR	Joseph William STEPHENSON	Walter Scott McLELLAN
01/08/1958	Re-named City of Greater Cessnock

City of Greater Cessnock

ELECTED	MAYOR		DEPUTY MAYOR		TOWN CLERK		DEPUTY TOWN CLERK
10/12/1958	Thomas GLEGHORN	Phillip John SAXTON		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
14/12/1959	Thomas FELL	Edward George BATES		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
07/12/1960	William Stanley BLAIR	Robert BROWN		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
12/12/1961	Robert BROWN	William Stanley BLAIR		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
12/12/1962	Robert BROWN (Elected by electors for Triennial Term)	Ronald Harcourt TURNER		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
2/1963		Edna May HANCOCK		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
6/12/1964		Arthur James HOWELL		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
15/12/1965	Robert BROWN (Elected by electors for Triennial Term)	Arthur James HOWELL		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
14/12/1966		Arthur James HOWELL		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
13/12/1967		Arthur James HOWELL		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
18/12/1968	Robert James BROWN	Andrew James FRAME		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
11/12/1969	Robert James BROWN	Andrew James FRAME		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
09/12/1970	Robert BROWN	Thomas GLEGHORN		Joseph William STEPHENSON			Walter Scott McLELLAN
29/09/1971	Robert BROWN		Thomas GLEGHORN		Joseph William STEPHENSON	Walter Scott McLELLAN
27/09/1972	Robert BROWN		Thomas GLEGHORN		Joseph William STEPHENSON	Walter Scott McLELLAN
12/09/1973	Robert BROWN		Thomas GLEGHORN		Joseph William STEPHENSON - Retired December, 1973 Norman STONE appointed from 1/1/1974 - Deceased July, 1974 J.W. Stephenson appointed from 7/1974-9/1974 Daryl Keith MAYTOM appointed 1/10/1974	Walter Scott McLELLAN
02/10/1974	Robert James BROWN		Eric John FITZGIBBON		Daryl Keith MAYTOM	Walter Scott McLELLAN
14/09/1975	Robert James BROWN		Andrew James FRAME		Daryl Keith MAYTOM	Walter Scott McLELLAN
22/09/1976	Robert James BROWN		Andrew James FRAME		Daryl Keith MAYTOM	Walter Scott McLELLAN
21/09/1977	Robert James BROWN (Elected by electors for Triennial Term)		Andrew James FRAME (3 Year Term)		John Lawrence MAGANN appointed from 1/1/1977	Walter Scott McLELLAN
20/09/1980	Eric John FITZGIBBON (Elected by electors for Triennial Term)		George Forrest ELLIS		John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
23/09/1981			George Forrest ELLIS		John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
22/09/1982			George Forrest ELLIS		John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
24/09/1983	Stanley Gordon WILLIAMS (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term		George Forrest ELLIS (4 Year Term) (Resigned 30/03/1987)		John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
01/04/1984	City of Greater Cessnock re-named City of Cessnock

City of Cessnock

ELECTED	MAYOR
26/03/1987		John Harcourt TURNER	John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
26/09/1987	Maree Catherine CALLAGHAN (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Jeffrey MAYBURY	John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
14/09/1988		John Patrick CLARENCE	John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
13/09/1989		Joel Andrew FITZGIBBON	John Lawrence MAGANN	Colin Leslie COWAN
05/09/1990		Edward John PLUNKETT	Colin Leslie COWAN appointed from 1/1/1990	John Robert STAPLETON
14/09/1991	Maree Catherine CALLAGHAN (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term	William Patrick PARKER	Colin Leslie COWAN	John Robert STAPLETON
23/09/1992		William Patrick PARKER	Colin Leslie COWAN	John Robert STAPLETON
29/09/1993		William Patrick PARKER	Colin Leslie COWAN	John Robert STAPLETON
21/09/1994		William Patrick PARKER	Colin Leslie COWAN	John Robert STAPLETON
14/09/1995 18/09/1996 17/09/1997 16/09/1998	Mervyn Horace PYNE (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Graham BURSTON Brian BURSTON Des MILLS Alison DAVEY	Colin Leslie COWAN	John Robert STAPLETON John Robert STAPLETON John Robert STAPLETON John Robert STAPLETON
20/09/1999 20/09/2000 05/09/2001 2002	John Patrick CLARENCE (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Catherine PARSONS Bob BEDFORD John RADNIDGE Bob PYNSENT	Colin Leslie COWAN
	*Elections moved from September 03 to 27.3.04 for this election only.*
27/03/2004 2005 2006 2007/8	John Patrick CLARENCE (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Bob PYNSENT Ron BESOFF Ron BESOFF Bob PYNSENT	Colin Leslie COWAN Bernard MORTOMORE Appointed from 6/10/2005
ELECTED	MAYOR	DEPUTY MAYOR	GENERAL MANAGER	COUNCILLORS
13/9/2008	Alison DAVEY (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Dale TROY Ian OLSEN Rachel MAIN Cordelia BURCHAM	Bernard MORTOMORE Lea ROSSER Appointed from 5/10/2010	James Hawkins Cordelia Burcham Rachel Main Ian Olsen Bob Pynsent Dale Troy Jeff Maybury Allan McCudden Chris Parker Graham Smith James Ryan Neil Gorman
ELECTED	MAYOR	DEPUTY MAYOR	GENERAL MANAGER	COUNCILLORS
8/9/2012	Bob Pynsent (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Graham SMITH Allan STAPLEFORD James HAWKINS Allan STAPLEFORD	Lea ROSSER Stephen GLEN Interim GM from 3/6/2013 Appointed from 23/10/2013	Bryce Gibson Cordelia Burcham Rod Doherty Suellen Wrightson (Resigned 6/6/2016) Ian Olsen James Ryan Allan Stapleford James Hawkins Graham Smith Morgan Campbell Catherine Parsons Jeff Maybury
ELECTED	MAYOR	DEPUTY MAYOR	GENERAL MANAGER	COUNCILLORS
20/9/2016	Bob Pynsent (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term)	Allan STAPLEFORD Anthony BURKE Melanie DAGG Darrin GRAY Jay SUVAAL Appointed from 15/9/2021	Stephen GLEN (Resigned 31/7/2019) Lotta JACKSON Appointed from 30/9/2019	Paul Dunn Mark Lyons Allan Stapleford Ian Olsen Jay Suvaal Di Fitzgibbon John Fagg Melanie Dagg (Resigned 22/3/2021) Anne Sander Darrin Gray Anthony Burke Rod Doherty
ELECTED	MAYOR	DEPUTY MAYOR	GENERAL MANAGER	COUNCILLORS
04/12/2021	Jay Suvaal (Elected by electors for Quadriennial Term) *Elections defered from 5/9/2020 and then deferred again from 4/9/2021 due to COVID-19 impacts.*	John MOORES	Lotta JACKSON Resigned 10/3/2022)	Paul Dunn John Moores Karen Jackson Ian Olsen Jessica Jurd Paul Paynter Daniel Watton Anne Sander Rosa Grine Anthony Burke Mitchell Hill James Hawkins