Allen, Edward
DESCRIPTION
NameAllen, Edward
Date of Birth1864
Date of Death1936
OccupationJournalist
BiographyEdward was born 1864 at Shellharbour, to John Walter Allen and Charlotte Dunster.
In 1905, Edward married Mary Ann Elizabeth (Bessie) Lavender at Hay N.S.W, and they had one child;
Edward Lavender b.1909 Wollongong (married Ruth Peden Hobbs in Chatswood N.S.W. in 1938)
Edward Allen Snr was a well-known person within the district, as evidenced by the scale of the farewell the town gave him when he accepted employment with the Hicks Brothers to be a manager, at their new ham and bacon depot in Sydney.
The farewell was attended by 250 people and many speeches were given by the various organizations in which he had been involved, thanking him for the 30years he had given to the improvement of Shellharbour.
Edward was secretary to the Shellharbour Progress Association.
St. Paul's Church of England was an important part of his life, playing the organ for services.
He became bandmaster of the Shellharbour Brass Band.
The Allowrie Division of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance presented Edward with a gold medal for the assistance he had given them. Thanks, was also given for the assistance he gave to the Shellharbour Steam and Navigation Co.
In 1899, he became an alderman in the Shellharbour Municipal Council from February to October, then in 1904, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing the Illawarra.
Edward bought the Illawarra Mercury in 1905 from Archibald Campbell's widow, and was editor until he sold it in 1911. In 1914, when World War One began, he came to Sydney as Vice-President of the Country Press association.
Edward was also the secretary of the Wollongong Tourist Association.
Joseph Dunster Allen (his brother) became seriously ill in 1905, and Edward took over the running of the Allen Bros. Post Office and Store.
In his positions in various organisations, he was able to improve conditions in Shellharbour; repairs to the harbour and changes to the sewage system (raw sewage was leaking into the harbour).
Edward died in 1936 at Waverton N.S.W.
Sources:
Green Meadows- William A Bayley.
Shellharbour's Forgotten Cemetery and Selected Pioneers- W & T Nunan.
Illawarra Historical Society Bulletin July 1946.
Tongarra Heritage Files.
External LinkChurch of England Organist 1889
Progress Association 1898
Harbour 1898
Social Tea and Presentations 1899
Removing Shell Grit 1899
Man on the Street 1899
New Magistrates 1899
Resignation as Alderman 1899
Candidate for Illawarra 1903
Reform Candidate (photo) 1903
Edward Allen MLA (photo) 1904Wedding 1905
Tourist Association 1905A Page of South Coast History 1927Proprietor of Illawarra Mercury 1907
Early Illawarra History January 1932Early Illawarra History February 1932Obituary 1936
Mercury Obituary 1936
Date of Birth1864
Date of Death1936
OccupationJournalist
BiographyEdward was born 1864 at Shellharbour, to John Walter Allen and Charlotte Dunster.In 1905, Edward married Mary Ann Elizabeth (Bessie) Lavender at Hay N.S.W, and they had one child;
Edward Lavender b.1909 Wollongong (married Ruth Peden Hobbs in Chatswood N.S.W. in 1938)
Edward Allen Snr was a well-known person within the district, as evidenced by the scale of the farewell the town gave him when he accepted employment with the Hicks Brothers to be a manager, at their new ham and bacon depot in Sydney.
The farewell was attended by 250 people and many speeches were given by the various organizations in which he had been involved, thanking him for the 30years he had given to the improvement of Shellharbour.
Edward was secretary to the Shellharbour Progress Association.
St. Paul's Church of England was an important part of his life, playing the organ for services.
He became bandmaster of the Shellharbour Brass Band.
The Allowrie Division of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance presented Edward with a gold medal for the assistance he had given them. Thanks, was also given for the assistance he gave to the Shellharbour Steam and Navigation Co.
In 1899, he became an alderman in the Shellharbour Municipal Council from February to October, then in 1904, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing the Illawarra.
Edward bought the Illawarra Mercury in 1905 from Archibald Campbell's widow, and was editor until he sold it in 1911. In 1914, when World War One began, he came to Sydney as Vice-President of the Country Press association.
Edward was also the secretary of the Wollongong Tourist Association.
Joseph Dunster Allen (his brother) became seriously ill in 1905, and Edward took over the running of the Allen Bros. Post Office and Store.
In his positions in various organisations, he was able to improve conditions in Shellharbour; repairs to the harbour and changes to the sewage system (raw sewage was leaking into the harbour).
Edward died in 1936 at Waverton N.S.W.
Sources:
Green Meadows- William A Bayley.
Shellharbour's Forgotten Cemetery and Selected Pioneers- W & T Nunan.
Illawarra Historical Society Bulletin July 1946.
Tongarra Heritage Files.
External LinkChurch of England Organist 1889
Progress Association 1898
Harbour 1898
Social Tea and Presentations 1899
Removing Shell Grit 1899
Man on the Street 1899
New Magistrates 1899
Resignation as Alderman 1899
Candidate for Illawarra 1903
Reform Candidate (photo) 1903
Edward Allen MLA (photo) 1904Wedding 1905
Tourist Association 1905A Page of South Coast History 1927Proprietor of Illawarra Mercury 1907
Early Illawarra History January 1932Early Illawarra History February 1932Obituary 1936
Mercury Obituary 1936
CONNECTIONS
CollectionPeopleFamilyAllen (Shellharbour)PersonAllen, Joseph DunsterAllen, Keith WickhamAllen, John WalterRelated ItemKaramia
Allen, Edward. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 19/04/2026, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/15866






