Mayor for the years 1960 – 1961, 1965. Alderman 1948 – 1959, 1962 – 1964, 1966 – 1971. Died 11th February, 1987
(From The Advertiser, 18th February, 1987) Former Mayor of Parramatta and local businessman, Alderman Alfred Robert Cayley Thomas – known as Robin – died last week at the age of 72.
His funeral was held on Monday at the Cathedral Church of St. John, Parramatta, and he was buried at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, where he had a weekend home. Mr. Thomas, a bachelor, had been ill since September and is believed to have died of a heart attack.
He recently gave a clock to the city and this stands at Civic Place. The park, known as the Robin Thomas Reserve off Harris St, is named after him.
… Three times mayor of Parramatta in the 1960s, Mr. Thomas also held office as deputy mayor in 1974, 1975 and 1976. He was first elected as an alderman in December 1941 and was elected continuously until 1971 when he was defeated at the general council election. He regained his seat in September 1974 and served until 1980 when he was again defeated. In 1983 Mr. Thomas was re-elected and served as an Independent alderman for the Parramatta ward until his death.
Mr. Thomas was very active in local church life … He was a member of the Cemetery Trust and one of the five trustees on the St John Endowment Trust. He was a founder and chairman of the Crusade for a Christian Christmas and paid for a new rectory for the Holy Trinity Church at Wentworth falls …
Born on January 5th, 1914, Mr. Thomas lived at Dundas as a boy then went to The King’s School, Parramatta, where he was house captain, school monitor and ran the Great Private Schools Mile event in 1933. In 1936 (he) set up his auctioneering business, A.R.C. Thomas Auctioneering which he was involved with until his death. He also launched a removalist firm with which he severed connections eight years ago ….
Alfred Robert Cayley Thomas