There’s not many local law firms that have the sort of deep historical ties and positive influence on Mullumbimby that Hungerford Lehmann have.
Located beneath The Echo’s office, the law firm turns 100 this year.
In a 2020 piece by Peter Tsicalas from the Brunswick Valley Historical Society (BVHS), its founder, Hedley Hungerford (1895–1978), is described as an ‘exemplum of the model citizen’ given his involvement in almost everything Mullumbimby from 1924 until his retirement in 1969.
Hungerford was the grandchild of Anglican Minister, the Rev Septimus Hungerford. Septimus landed in Australia from Ireland in 1828 with his large family of ten.
BVHS says Hedley’s father was a prominent Murwillumbah solicitor and property owner, and ‘by 1913 was a leading Freemason’.
Depression era
After passing the bar exams, young Hedley joined his father’s practice, before moving to Mullumbimby in 1924.
The Historical Society’s Tsicalas writes, ‘Hedley arrived in Mullumbimby when the place was in the depths of depression’.
‘In 1921, the lifting of domestic price controls followed on from the loss of lucrative war-time contracts with Britain, bringing the harsh reality of the free market to the dairy industry, all coincidental with the sudden collapse of the booming banana industry’.
While the double whammy caused a 16 per cent population loss, Tsicalas says it recovered by the late 1920s, just before the Great Depression hit.
Community member
Hedley was an active community member, becoming president and a committee member for various organisations.
This included Rotary, the School of Arts, the town’s Chamber of Commerce, the Show Society and Legion of Ex-Servicemen.
He was also foundation president of the Charity Amateur Theatrical Society in 1929, and as an athlete of repute, active with the sporting community.
He was also foundation member of the town’s bowls club, while his wife Ella was foundation member of the golf club.
Hedley was also influential in determining the best site for the town’s pool, while also ‘giving birth to the Chincogan Fiesta along the way’.
In the early 1960s, Hedley took in Paul Lehmann as a partner, and in 1969, Hedley’s retirement was quite an event for the town.
Big farewell
Tsicalas writes, ‘It attracted probably the most representative gathering ever seen in Mullumbimby’.
Speakers from more than 20 organisations which Hedley had represented over 44 years spoke of the ‘qualities of the guest as a citizen and sportsman’.
While his wife Ella died three months before his retirement, Hedley lived on until 1978.
Current proprietor Joshua Allan said, ‘There are not many businesses that make it to their centenary’.
‘It is a great credit to the firm’s clients and the wider community. The Hedley Hungerford legacy is something we are all proud to be associated with’.
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