Aland, Robert

Robert Aland, Toowoomba’s Mayor in 1874 and 1875, was an ironmonger and storekeeper who had premises in Ruthven Street.

His store was on the northern side of Ruthven Street near where the main branch of the Commonwealth Bank now stands.

Related to former Dalby Mayor Mr Richard Aland, Robert Aland was involved with progressive movements for the advancement of Toowoomba, among them the push for a permanent water supply.

Other organizations he was closely associated with were the city’s hospital board, which he was a committee member of for 25 years, the congregation of the Neil Street Methodist Church, and was a trustee of the city’s cemetery.

He was also interested in education and for several years was chairman of trustees of the Toowoomba Grammar School.

Robert Aland was born in London on December 24, 1836.

He came to Australia at the age of 16 and worked at Ipswich as store clerk for a number of years prior to settling in Toowoomba about 1866.

He established a successful ironmongery business in Toowoomba and Warwick in 1876 and by 1886, was a major shareholder in the Toowoomba Foundry.

According to Toowoomba historian Mr Ron Douglas, records show Robert Aland had premises in Reed’s Building in 1866. This block of six or eight shops was located in Ruthven Street opposite St Luke’s Church and at one stage, housed the offices of the Toowoomba Chronicle.

Aland was elected an alderman of the Toowoomba Council in 1873, 1876 and 1877, and in 1878, stood as one of six candidates for the Legislative Assembly.

He eventually gained third place in the poll behind the Hon. W H Groom and Mr G H Davenport. In January 1881 Davenport died and Robert Aland was elected in his place, holding the seat until May 1893 when he did not seek re-election.

He died in Warwick on March 19, 1904.