John Gillies
Year of induction:
2016
Field of endeavour:
Business and public service
Lifespan:
1844 - 1911
Originally from Scotland, John Gillies was based in Maitland for 60 years and worked as a newspaperman and politician. When he became part owner of the Maitland Mercury he made it a daily, he was a Justice of the Peace and he served on Maitland Municipal Council as Mayor from 1888 to 1890. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of West Maitland in 1891 and Maitland from 1904 to 1911. Here he helped secure a courthouse, hospital, technical college, a high school and a river embankment for the city.