Following the election of aldermen by a show of hands at a court house meeting on Tuesday 22 December 1863, the six elected aldermen met in the court house on Monday 4 January 1864 to elect a mayor. The Armidale Express, January 1864 reported 'the proceedings were conducted with closed doors, the public and the press being excluded'. On the motion of Aldermen John Moore and John Trim, George Allingham was elected unanimously as Armidale's first mayor.
The seal (pictured above) was presented to the Council of the Municipality of Armidale when it became a Municipality in 1863. It was replaced by the 'waratah and crown' seal when Armidale was officially declared a City in 1885.
To read more about each Mayor click on their photograph.