Cory, Gilbert

Three streets on the western side of Toowoomba – Gilbert, Gostwyck and Cory streets – are among the monuments named in honour of the city’s 19th Mayor.

Gilbert Gostwyck Cory, elected to the position in 1891, is probably best remembered for his “pioneering” work with the Toowoomba Turf Club and the Royal Agricultural Society.

However, he was also associated withy the Jondaryan Shire Council and was its chairman in 1894 and 1895.

Born in the Paterson district of New South Wales in 1839, he came to Toowoomba in 1858 and took up service at the Cecil Plains station of James Taylor, a successful pastoralist and landowner who was Mayor of Toowoomba in 1890. Cory’s wife was a daughter of Taylor.

After successfully managing the station for a number of years, Gilbert Cory moved to Toowoomba where he took an active part in civic affairs. “Vacy”, in Russell Street, was built for him during the 1880’s.

One of Cory’s chief interests was the Royal Agricultural Society. He was a member of the Society from 1872 until his death in 1924. He was elected a committee-man of the society in 1878, vice-president in 1894 and president from 1912 until 1924.

He was also one of the founders of the Toowoomba Turf Club of which he was a trustee from its inception. Other monuments to his memory include the Cory stand at the old Show Grounds and a ward in the  now demolished original block of Toowoomba General Hospital.

In addition to his term as Mayor, Gilbert Cory was a Toowoomba City Council alderman from 1889 to 1894 and a member of Jondaryan Shire Council from 1883 until 1919.

He died on August 8, 1924 aged 84.