b'Let there be lightFrom its earliest days, Allens has been part of some of thelame, he could not use the carriage and he did not wishmost transformative moments in Australian history. In theto go if he could not take his children with him. 1830s Sydneys streets were a dangerous place to venture at night. While gas lighting had recently been introducedThe Sydney Herald applauded the successful lighting of in London and Paris, Sydney remained in the dark. In a questthe lamps, and paid tribute to those whose foresight and to bring both light and safety to the citys streets, andedication to the task had brought it about: enterprising group of businesspeople worked together to bring gas lamps to Sydney. George Allen was among them. Having congratulated the public upon this brilliant era, we must not close without a word of congratulations to In September 1836 a prospectus was issued to form thethe Directors and shareholders of the Australian Gas Light Australian Gas Light Company, to bring about the lightingCompany. To them this must be a truly joyful work. Their of this large, increasing, and opulent metropolis with gas.outlay has been large their difficulties innumerable George was listed as one of the founding directors and wouldtheir delays apparently without end; but their reward go on to serve as the companys chairman from 1869 untilhas come at last; their arduous work has been brought his death in 1877. to an honourable completion; they have conferred a splendid and permanent benefit upon their country; and The lighting of the first gas lamp on 24 May 1841 waswe cannot doubt that their expenditure, their toils, their coordinated with celebrations for Queen Victorias twenty-anxieties, and withal their exemplary patience, will be second birthday. Unfortunately George was not there to seeliberally recompensed by the golden opinions of their the first lamp lit. He had wanted to share this significantfellow-citizens.moment with his family, however, as one of his horses was The Australian Gas Light Company showroomin Haymarket, Sydney, in the 1800s. 33'