George ALLEN

ALLEN, GEORGE (b. London, England, Nov 1800; d. Sydney, NSW, 3 Nov 1877). Wesleyan lawyer, philanthropist and politician.

George was the second son of Richard Allen, physician, of London, and Mary Tickfold. He came to Sydney in 1816 with his mother to rejoin his stepfather, who had been transported in 1812. Articled to the Government Solicitor, George Allen was the first man to be admitted a solicitor (1822) after completing his whole training in the colony. He m. Jane Bowden 24 July 1823. He was the founder of the oldest legal firm in Australia, practised his profession successfully until 1854, and held a variety of directorships in leading companies, including the Gaslight Company, the Bank of NSW and the NSW Savings Bank. He was elected to the Sydney Council in 1842 and supported the employment of the poor, rather than convicts, on public works. He was Mayor of Sydney in 1844-5 and a member of the Legislative Council 1845-73. He was a founder of the Sydney Free Grammar School in 1825, was closely associated with the Sydney College, a member of the Denominational Board of Education (1848-66), the Council of Education (1867-73), and the Senate of the University of Sydney (1859 73).

His record of public service was probably unequalled in nineteenth century Australia and it was said of him that 'any charitable body found in him a ready supporter'. For more than 50 years, Allen was a member of the Board of the NSW Benevolent Society, and several of those years was spent as either Vice-President or Secretary. He performed similar services for the Sydney Infirmary for more than 30 years. He was a founder of the Destitute Children's Asylum at Randwick and remained on the board until his death. Allen was noted for his willingness to give without advertisement and to undertake time consuming and unglamorous work for the institutions he served.

George Allen joined the Wesleyan Methodists in 1821, and thereafter became a leading layman and a firm proponent of evangelical theology. He became the son-in-law of Thomas Bowden, one of the founders of Methodism in New South Wales. Involved in the foundation of the WMMS, Allen remained an active member until his death and was, for a time, one of its general treasurers. He was also active in the BFBS, the RTS, the Bethel Union, the Wesleyan Contingent Fund and Chapel Building Committee and most of the principal societies of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was founder of the Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School Society (1834), the drafter of its rules and, for several years, its general secretary. The purpose of this body was to try to improve the level of religious education given by the Sunday schools as well as to link them together. In 1843 he built and opened a chapel on his property, Toxteth, Glebe, which was used by the Wesleyan Church for many years. His was a life of rich dedication to the church and other good causes, and 'a patient continuance in welldoing towards others'.

ADB 1; SMH, 6 Nov 1877; Wesleyan Advocate, 10 Nov 1877; C H Bertie, 'Pioneer Families of Australia, no.29. The Allens', The Home, 2 May 1932

DON WRIGHT