Labour Australia

George Neilly senior (1863-1946) coal miner, gaoled trade unionist

Birth: 28 June 1863 Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland, son of Thomas Neilly, coal miner, and Mary, née Laidlaw, cotton weaver. Marriage: 1892 Adamstown, New South Wales, to Maria Kate Elphick. They had one daughter and one son. Death: 29 July 1946 at Kurri Kurri, New South Wales. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• After working as a coal miner in Scotland, he arrived in Brisbane, Queensland, as an assisted immigrant in the Waroonga, on 13 March 1888.
• Lived in Adamstown, Newcastle, by 1892. Prominent player in Adamstown Rosebuds soccer team.
• By 1907 at Kurri Kurri, official in Stanford-Merthyr Miners’ Lodge.
• Convicted on 30 December 1909 with twelve others of having instigated a strike and gaoled for 2 months after refusing to pay £100 fine imposed by Judge Charles Heydon. After six weeks in prison was discharged from East Maitland Gaol 4 April 1910.
• 1919 trustee of Kurri Kurri School of Arts.
• In the 1930s was a miner at Abermain Colliery.
• Member Abermain Old Age and Invalid Pensioners’ Association.
• Brother, from 1892, of the Mistletoe Lodge, No 28, Grand United Order of Free Gardeners.
• Member United Grand Lodge of NSW, Lodge Kurri No. 253; Grand Lodge of Manning Mark Masons Lodge no. 38; and Grand United Order of Free Gardeners Lodge Eden no. 13. Companion of the Royal Arch Chapter of Master Masons, Cessnock Chapter no. 60.
• Grandfather of George Henry Neilly, member of the Legislative Council of NSW.