William Dind
William Dind was an hotelier and theatre manager in Sydney, Australia, where he was the longtime lessee of the Royal Victoria, and Prince of Wales theatres. He settled on Sydney's North Shore, where he was active in local government, and he and his son William Forster Dind, aka W. Forster Dind or William Dind jun, ran hotels which were popular with theatrical people.
History
Dind was the youngest son of Francis Dind MD, of Shadwell, London, and emigrated to Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, arriving as a single cabin passenger on the barque Duckenfield in May 1834. He was licensee of the Mitre Tavern, corner of Argyle and Collins streets; the Mogul Tavern on Argyle Street; and the Bricklayers Arms on Elizabeth Street,He became well-known in Hobart for his proficiency as an oarsman.
Sydney hotels
He moved to Sydney in 1840, where he first came to public notice as licensee of the "Clown Tavern" on Pitt Street, opposite the Victoria Theatre. In 1844 Dind sold his interest in the "Clown" to George Coppin He then took over the "Star and Garter", over the road and adjacent the theatre, which he co-managed with Joseph Wyatt.He relinquished that hotel when he took up residence at Milsons Point, and in 1848 took over a hotel on the Western Wharf Road, the "Cornish Arms", which he renamed the "Lily of St Leonards", St Leonards being the township now known as North Sydney, and perhaps a humorous reference to the Dibdin play. By October 1853, when the hotel was put on the market, it was commonly called "Dind's Hotel". The name "Lily of St Leonards" stuck until at least 1910.
By 1858 Dind had established another inn, registered as "Dind's Hotel", his eldest son William Dind jun. being the licensee.
The cottage-style hotel, with its garden and uninterrupted view of the harbour, and Dind's store of theatrical anecdotes and memorabilia, became a favorite haunt of actors and artists.
Sydney theatres
In 1855 Wyatt built the Prince of Wales Theatre on Castlereagh Street, and Dind served as its general manager until 3 October 1860, when the theatre was destroyed by fire, and Dind returned to the "Vic" as its lessee.During this time he acted as Australian agent for Mary Provost, the Marsh Family, and procured other acts for the two theatres.
The Prince of Wales, rebuilt as the Prince of Wales Opera House, opened on 23 May 1863, and Dind succeeded Coppin as lessee in 1868, then it too was destroyed by fire in January 1872, and Dind quit the theatre business. In his 20 years as theatre lessee and manager he won the respect and friendship of many prominent theatre people, including William Andrews, James H. Rainford, and William Hoskins.
He was universally recognised as an honorable businessman: he dealt fairly with every contract, and in the months when the theatre was making heavy losses, no employee had a reduction in salary.
Local government
As a resident of Sydney's North Shore, Dind was interested in local affairs, and in 1868 when the Borough of East St Leonards was declared, Dind was elected alderman, and in 1873, shortly after he retired from theatre management, he became mayor, and was re-elected 1874, 1875, and 1876. In 1888 he was obliged to absent himself from meetings on account of illness, and resigned four months later.Dind died at "Shadwell", Cowles Road, Mosman Bay, home of his granddaughters. His remains were buried at St Thomas's cemetery.
Family
William Dind married Eliza Rebecca Paterson in 1834. Eliza was daughter of William Joseph Paterson and Elizabeth Paterson, née Fidler.- William Forster Dind, only son of William Dind, born in Hobart, but lived on Sydney's North Shore district from around 1848 until his death. He built the hotel at Milsons Point, at the corner of Fitzroy and Alfred streets. He was a champion rower; both he and his father competed at the Hobart Regatta of 1862. He married Jane Fowler on 19 June 1858. They had eleven children, including: