Family background
Alfred Skinner was born c1836 at Southborough, Kent, England, the son of James Skinner and Sarah Monckton. He married Jane Fowler (1837-1917) in 1856 at Southborough, Kent, England, and they had three sons and five daughters. Alfred Skinner and his wife immigrated to Australia on board the ship “Fitzjames” which arrived at Sydney on 1 April 1857. Alfred Skinner died at Sydney on 20 November 1901, aged 66 years; he was buried at Rookwood Cemetery in the Presbyterian section. He left no Will. Alfred Skinner lived in Gerrard Street, Alexandria.
Occupation & interests
Skinner was a bricklayer. For a considerable number of years, he was actively associated with the Builders and Contractors Association of NSW. Alfred Skinner took a keen interest in the promotion of friendly societies and at Redfern founded the Royal Oak Lodge of Grand United Order of Oddfellows. He was also a Freemason and a member of the Cambrian Lodge of Freemasons.
Local government service
Alfred Skinner was an alderman on Alexandria Council 1872-76.
References
‘Borough Council Elections’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 1872, p. 5, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13252484