William Peters

Who was William Peters?

William Charles Peters was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1959 and 1970. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party.

Peters began his working life as a hatter and joined the Felt Hatters Union when he was 16 years old. His union interest eventually overtook his career as a hatter and he was secretary of the union for 36 years from 1936 to 1972.

In 1947, he contested the state seat of Ashfield for the Labor Party but was defeated by the incumbent Liberal Athol Richardson. Six years later he was elected to Ashfield Council where he served for 24 years including two years as mayor from 1962 to 1964.

In 1959, George Neilly resigned his seat in the Legislative Council to contest the lower house seat of Cessnock. Peters won the nomination for the vacant seat and held his place until 1970. He did not hold ministerial office.