Just days before Mrs Barker would follow in the footsteps of previous mayoresses by revealing a plaque at the new $7 million administration building, Mr Barker said the job could not be done properly without a supportive wife.
When the 116-year-old council formed, Mrs King laid the foundation stone and more than 30 years later when the chambers were upgraded, Mrs Mengler continued the tradition.
Mr Barker said his wife had been instrumental in organising his election campaigns, and she may need to do it again. He said he would ‘seriously consider’ running for mayor of a State Government-proposed City of Riversea comprising the towns of Claremont, Cottesloe and Mosman Park and Shire of Peppermint Grove.
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READ NOWClaremont’s council chambers, administration building and library were destroyed by fire on the night of November 18, 2010.
The Town received $5.17 million from insurance and funded the remaining $1.83 million for the new building that includes staff offices and council chambers.
The library will remain at the Claremont Community Hub.
‘To walk back in to this new building makes me very proud of the administration staff of this council and my fellow councillors who operated under difficult circumstances over the past four years,’ Mr Barker said.
The Mayor said the facility had been designed so it could be expanded towards the bowling club with basement parking.
See Opinion page 10