Harry Montague Marks was Secretary of the Fair committee for many years, an actor in many of its theatrical productions and its Chairman for some time. He was also Secretary of the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society for 35 years, a councilor for nine years and mayor of the city in 1897-1897. He died at his residence "Turriff" Carpenter St. in 1916. His wife was Mary Leech, daughter of Samual Leech of Castlemaine. It is likely that Miss W Leech and Mary are the same person. Mary was possibly known as Mary (Winne) Leech. The first half of the diary contains mostly cutout pictures and prints that you would find in a girl's scrapbook. The second half contains many newspaper articles and mementos to do with the Mayor Harry Marks.Diary of Miss W Leech, scrapbook contains 151 pages of cuttings and newspaper articles relating to Bendigo. DVD Digital Copy of Marks/Leech Scrapbook. Tif and JPG images of Diary. PDF of Diary.history, bendigo, miss w leech diary, harry montague mark, mark marks, mary leech, bendigo mayor

Harry Montague Marks was born at Pall Mall Bendigo on the 1st October 1855. At age 18 he worked for Goldsborough & Co in Melbourne learning land, wool and banking business. He returned to Bendigo aged 22 to open an auctioneers business which operated on the corner of Williamson and Hargraves Streets. Councillor Marks was elected to the seat of Darling in May 1893 and remained serving until 1902. He served as Mayor once only from 1896-97. It was noted in the Bendigo Advertiser on July 3rd 1897 that Mayor Marks appeared in new robes .. made to council order by Messrs Henderson and Goodisson who dealt in highly fashionable goods in the Beehive. (fn https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/9088966). It is not know if these robes are still in existence. Harry Marks married Mary Leech in 1881and together they had four sons and one daughter. Harry Marks died in February 1916 aged 60. After his death Mary Marks became the senior partner in the firm HM Marks and Sons auctioneers. Mary died in 1919.Oval black and white silver gelatin print mounted on card. Studio portrait of Mayor Marks. Photograph mounted on card. Front facing seated portrait wearing mayoral robes and chain, clutching a rolled document. Original rectangular shaped photograph has been trimmed to fit into oval frame.Bartlett Bros. lower left on photograph.councillor h m marks, mayor marks, mayoress marks