Mayor 1938 - 1941
William H. McBean died in the Armidale and New England Hospital on Saturday March 1961 aged nearly seventy three years. He was the third son of the late Mr and Mrs G.H. McBean of Flowerburn, Armidale. Born in Melbourne on 31 March 1888, he came to Armidale with his family in 1892. He graduated in dentistry in Sydney when he was 20 and returned to Armidale. First elected in 1929, he was a member of council for fifteen years and mayor for four years.
He was first elected to council in 1929 and was mayor during Armidale's celebrations in 1938 on the 75th anniversary of its incorporation as a municipality. During World War 2, he served as Chief Warden and was responsible for the creation and operation of the city's National Emergency Service. He was chairman of the P.L.C. Council for 20 years and also served as past president of Rotary; clerk of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church and chieftian of the Caledonian Society. McBean House at P.L.C. was dedicated in memory of him in July 1961. In October 1951 he was presented with the Local Government Long Service certificate.
Following a service at St. Paul's church he was buried in the Armidale cemetery. He left a widow, formerly Miss Marion Pearson of Wood Park, Armidale and a daughter.