Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, C1943
... cumming-william orbost-shire-council... was a prominent Orbost identity. cumming-william orbost-shire-council ...
This is a photograph of Councillor William Cumming who represented South Riding 1895-1911 and 1921 - 1943.
William Cumming was a prominent Orbost identity. He was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in 1866 the son of William Cumming and Mary Ann Montgomery. He came to Australia, at the age of 20, in 1890 and to Orbost in c.1890. He farmed at Bete Bolong and during WW1 ran a butcher's shop on his farm. He was a shire councillor of the Orbost Shire Council and served as a South Riding representative for 38 years. He was a keen Newmerella football supporter, a member of the Orbost Bowling Club as well as a director of the Orbost Butter Factory.
Cumming was married to Ellen Louise Mundy (b1880, d1945) and they had three children ( Harold, William and Gordon).
Information from Lori Fellows (Grand-daughter) April 2020: William Cumming. My paternal grandfather born in Ballymena Northern Ireland. Came to Australia aged 18. Married Ellen Mundy on 25/08/1902. This photo taken during his time as Orbost Shire Council President. Father of Harold, William and Gordon. Died in Orbost 24.11.1950. William Cumming (1866-1950) arrived in Australia in 1884 on the "Orient". His brothers David (1868-1932), John (1870-1920) & Samuel (1871-1953) arrived in 1887 on the "Orizaba". On the passenger list Samuel is listed as David. Also my grandfather was Chairman of Directors of the Dandenong Bacon Factory [later Australian Bacon Co]....he raised pigs on the farm at Bete Bolong, that supplied the butchery on the farm and also the Dandy Bacon Factory. This item is associated with the Orbost Shire Council. The shire covered an area of 9,347 square kilometres and existed from 1892 until 1994 when it became part of the East Gippsland Shire Council.
It is associated with William Cumming who was a prominent Orbost identity.A black / white head and shoulders portrait of a moustached man in a suit.On back - "Cr W. Cumming, South Riding"cumming-william orbost-shire-council