Percy Nolan

Percy Nolan
28th Mayor of Manly
In office December 1935 – December 1938
Deputy	Arthur Harcourt
Preceded by	John Cross
Succeeded by	Aubrey Hanson-Norman
Personal details
Born	1886 Colony of Queensland
Died	1954 Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Spouse(s)	Irene
Relations	Rev Howard Nolan (brother)
Children	Two daughters
Education	Newington College
Occupation	Solicitor
Religion	Methodist

Percy Leonard Nolan (1886 – 1954) was an Australian solicitor and mayor of Manly Council.

Nolan was born in Queensland, the thirteenth child of Sara Susan (née Holme) and the Rev James Adams Nolan. His father was a Methodist minister and in 1885 president of the NSW and Queensland Methodist Conference. His mother worked for women's suffrage and served as president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

After early years in Queensland, where his father was chairman of the Ipswich Methodist District, Nolan moved with his family to New South Wales. He attended Fort Street High School for one year and then Newington College from 1899 until 1902.

Nolan studied law and served articles with Reginald Cowlishaw, of Robson and Cowlishaw in Sydney. In 1908 he was admitted as a solicitor. He lived in Manly from 1918 and in 1922 he became a partner in the firm of Turner, Nolan & Company.

Nolan first served on Manly Council as an alderman in 1923. For three terms from 1936 he was Mayor of Manly and served in that role during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the council in 1937 and the Sesquicentennial celebrations of the white settlement of Sydney the following year. The Dobroyd Head scenic roadway, funded by the council, was opened during his mayoralty. The new Manly Town Hall and the Eric Andrew designed Surf Pavilion at South Steyne were also undertaken whilst he was mayor. The pavilion won the Sir John Sulman Medal but has since been demolished. During his term as mayor, he was active in convincing the state government to allow the rebuilding of harbour ferry wharf which stands to this day. For many years, Nolan pushed for the removal of the North Head Quarantine Station from Manly and called for its use as public open space. In 1924, Nolan was on the first board of the Manly Art Gallery and Museum and was a supporter of that unique municipal endeavour until his death. Just prior to his death on 3 June 1954 he received a certificate of merit from the Local Government Association of NSW for 25 years’ service to Manly Council. On his death at his residence in Margaret Street, Manly, he was survived by his wife, Irene, and daughters, Dorothy and Joyce. In 1955 Clontarf Road was renamed Nolan Place in his honour.

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