Arthur J. Hand
Arthur J. Hand was a Sutherland Shire councillor, Blue Mountains City Council Alderman and timber merchant best known for being the developer and founder of the town of Lapstone in the Blue Mountains, as well as building Lapstone Train Station.
Pre-Lapstone
Arthur Hand was born in Penrith as the third eldest of seven children to English immigrant John Henry Hand and Emma Matilda Fragar. His father, a railway worker, died in 1930. His mother was a Red Cross volunteer during World War I. Prior to being a Councillor he founded Arthur J. Hand Pty. Ltd. A timber merchant company.Sutherland Shire Councillor
He was elected a Sutherland Shire Councillor in 1917, he was re-elected every 3 years until retiring in 1932, serving 15 years in total. He was known for his work on Tom Uglys Bridge.Blue Mountains
After retiring from Council he and his wife moved to Blackheath. In 1953 he was elected an Alderman of Blue Mountains Council.Lapstone
In October 1954 he purchased land near Glenbrook, named Stephens Paddock, that he named as the town of Lapstone. He would develop the land and would later build the Lapstone Railway Station, after promising it to potential buyers. It is one of the only privately funded Railway stations in New South Wales still operating.He gave Lapstone two of its most distinctive features, Red Brick Gutters and underground Power lines. Which have been described as "Visionary for the time."