Alfred Colless attended school at Emu Plains. At the age of fourteen he began work in a general store and later established his own store in Penrith. In March 1882, Colless published the first issue of The Nepean Times from premises at the corner of Station and High Streets, Penrith. In addition to his work on the Times, Colless was also the Penrith-area representative for The Sydney Morning Herald and a member of the New South Wales Country Press Association.
Colless was an active community member. He was a Council Alderman, and the Mayor of Penrith from February 1880 to February 1883. He was a member of the Agricultural Society, the Hospital Committee, the Freemasons, and the licensing bench; he was also a land valuer, electoral returning officer and a justice of the peace.
Source: 'Death of Mr. Alfred Colless: A Prominent Public Career: Founder of "The Nepean Times".' The Nepean Times 37. 1,992 (1 January 1921): 3
Sighted: 09/10/2013
