Aussie historian, author & entertainer Jim Haynes joins Overnight each week for his unique knowledge of the not-so-famous characters from Australia’s history. This week Jim shines the spotlight William Henry Paling – musician, merchant and philanthropist.

Dutch-born William Henry Paling (1825-1895) emigrated from Woerden  to Australia in 1853 and had established himself in Sydney in the 1850s as a tutor of piano and violin, composer, concert performer, the initiator of several music societies, and a soloist violinist, retailing musical instruments and sheet music.

Paling’s zest for civic and philanthropic activities won him many honorary public offices. He was made a justice of the peace in 1872 and regularly attended the bench in Sydney until unpaid justices of the peace were replaced by stipendiary magistrates.

In 1879 he had become a founding director of the Mercantile Mutual Insurance Co. In 1880 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales. He lived at Stanmore and was an alderman of Petersham Municipality in 1876-89 and mayor in 1881-82.

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