Rockley Battye Snr, Mayor, 1913, Ipswich, n.d. (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)

 

Rockley Battye Snr.

In 1873, Rockley Battye, his wife Sarah Harriet (nee Rigby) and only son Daniel Lewis Battye came to Australia from England, settling in Victoria. Battye began working in the woollen mills at Geelong and later Bowenfels, located in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. He spent two years in this position before moving back to Victoria and becoming the proprietor of the Star hotel in Geelong for a time.

In the early 1890’s the Battye family moved to Ipswich, Queensland. Mr. Battye Snr. became manager of the Weaving Department of the Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company’s factory at North Ipswich. He was appointed General Manager of the mill 18 months later. Retiring from this position in 1897, Rockley Battye purchased land at Churchill and approached the Ipswich Council about establishing a fell-mongering business on the property. Objections were made and his petition was not allowed. Returning to his publican’s role, he became the licensee of the Queensland Hotel at North Ipswich in 1898 and then later became the licensee of the Commercial Hotel in Ellenborough Street. Battye Snr. retired in 1901 and moved to Flint Street, North Ipswich where he owned property.

At times, Rockley Battye Snr was a member of the Ipswich Joint Hospital Board, of the committee of the Ipswich Technical College and the Ipswich Fire Brigade Board.

In 1907 Rockley Battye ran for representation of the North Ward as Alderman W. H. Summerville was retiring. He was elected unopposed for his first term and again in 1910 he was elected unopposed for a second term. Running for a third term he was opposed, however returned with the largest majority of votes that the North Ward had ever recorded. Voted in as Mayor in 1913, Battye Snr served as an Alderman for the rest of his Council time from 1907 – 1917 and 1920 – 1921. He decided not to return to office after 1921 and passed away quite suddenly at his residence, Flint Street, North Ipswich in 1922.

Daniel Lewis Battye

Rockley Battye’s son, Daniel Lewis Battye was born in England in 1871, coming to Australia with his family in 1873. As a young man he also worked at the Queensland Woollen Company at North Ipswich. He worked his way up from a Loom tuner to Manager. He married Mary Armstrong in 1892 and they had two children; a daughter Mildred and a son name after his Grandfather, Rockley Jnr. Daniel Battye passed away on the 15 June, 1937.

Rockley Battye Jnr, Ipswich, 1930s (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)

Rockley Battye Jnr.

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Rockley Battye (junior) had a keen interest in municipal affairs. He was an Alderman for Ipswich City Council from 1933 – 1946 and Deputy Mayor for a period of a year in 1940. Born in 1895, he married Alice Summerville in 1922 and they had two daughters, Marie and Thelma. Rockley Battye (junior) worked as a boilermaker for the Ipswich Railway Workshops before retiring because of ill-health in 1944. He was Vice-President of both the Ipswich and West Moreton Rugby League and also the Ipswich and West Moreton Swimming Association. Battye jnr also signed up to serve during the First World War when he was 21 years of age in May 1916. He served in France until he was admitted to the Barnet War Hospital, England in April 1918 with Trench Fever. He was discharged and returned to Australia in September 1919. Battye Jnr was a staunch supporter of the Ipswich Branch of the Australian Labor Party, being President for many years. He also supported the Returned Soldiers’ League, becoming the first President of the Railway sub-branch of the League in 1936. Rockley Battye Jnr passed away at the age of 51 years.