Lot 435

Description

Ballarat Electric Trams, 1906, members pass, in bronze (21mm) voided with ring top suspension, impressed on reverse 'A.J.Pittard Ballarat East'. Very fine.

Alfred James Pittard, businessman, politician, municipal councillor was born in Ballarat West on 3 August 1868. The son of a shoemaker he left school at 12 years old to work for a plumber in Geelong. He returned to Ballarat in 1891 to work in his father's shoe shop later taking control of the business. Pittard was elected to the town council at Ballarat East in 1908 and was mayor 1913-14 and 1920-21. After another term as mayor in 1926 he retired from council but continued to serve on the Ballarat Water Commission and Sewerage Authority. He served as chairman of the latter 1934-50 and as chairman of the Provincial Sewerage Authorities Association 1944-1949. Pittard was also the local member of the Legislative Council from 1931 to 1949. He died in May 1950 and was buried in Ballarat.