William Wiley, one time mayor of Wollongong Municipal Council for the periods of 1886-87 and 1889-90, rose quickly in the Wollongong area as a property dealer.

He was born about 1852 in England and arrived in the colony as a small child with his parents David and Hannah Wiley,  his sister Alice and brother David. 

The Wiley family settled in Sydney where his father, David, a basketmaker, established himself in business on the corner of Pitt and Park streets. 

Young William was educated at Fort Street School. On leaving school, he began work in the survey branch of the civil service. William Wiley married Miss Helen Ramsay in September 1875. 

Shortly after, he was appointed council clerk in December 1875 at Waverley. This appointment was endorsed by his cousin Jonathon Wiley, who was at the time council clerk. He held both the civil service and council clerk positions until about 1880. In 1882, Mr Wiley was elected an alderman on Waverley Council, a position he held for two years.

Around this time, he began to purchase large amounts of property in the northern suburbs of Illawarra. Eventually the land was sold to Thomas Saywell and William Wilson.

In 1884, he purchased Kenny Estate in Wollongong for £1000. A further purchase of land adjoining Kenny Estate was bought in 1886 for £1200. These areas covered from the south of Crown Street to Ellen Street and Keira Street to Atchison Street.

Although still living at Waverley, Mr Wiley became a well-known financier and land agent. A requisition of 900 signatures secured him a candidature in the 1885 Wollongong Council elections. He held the position of alderman until 1890. He purchased land and a substantial home for himself and his  wife, Helen, at Garden Hill estate in 1885 for £3600. He then purchased Zlotkowski Estate for £2800, followed soon after with the purchase of quite cheap land known as Cochranes Paddock for £1700, which covered Stewart Street to Bank Street and from Kembla Street to Church Street.

Unanimously elected as mayor of Wollongong in 1886, Mr Wiley was in a prime position for the construction of the Wollongong Town Hall. In fact, it was his wife Helen Wiley who laid the foundation stone in July 1886. 

For the official opening, Governor Lord Carrington arrived in Wollongong the day before and was taken to Mr Wiley’s home at Garden Hill House, where he stayed the night. Next day, February 3, 1887, the party proceeded to Wollongong Town Hall for the official opening by the Governor Lord Carrington.

In November 1887, Alderman Wiley held a well-attended meeting at his Garden Hill House. Those present were colliery owners or their managers, as well as local business people. Alderman Wiley said at the meeting that  he had been corresponding with representatives of principal harbour trusts in New Zealand, which produced  satisfactory results. A  sum of money was raised at the meeting and a committee was formed to bring the ideas  to the public at a further meeting.

A public meeting was called on December 15, 1887, at Wollongong Town Hall. 

 Alderman Wiley put forth the first resolution of the evening: ‘‘That in the opinion of this meeting, it is eminently desirable for the best interests of this district that a harbour trust be established at Wollongong of a character similar to those in operation in Victoria and New Zealand, with the object of extending the harbour accommodation, and thereby increasing the facilities for dealing with the enormous mineral wealth of Illawarra’’. 

Next week William Wiley’s story continues when his personal life begins to catch up with him.

Information courtesy of Carol Herben, OAM.  Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au