William Eastwood Thompson

William Eastwood Thompson (c. 1868 - November 1952) was an Australian settler of Phillip Island, Victoria, and a philanthropist. Born around 1868 in Brighton, Victoria, to James Thompson and his wife Ruth. He grew up in Melbourne and first visited Phillip Island as a youth in 1889.^[1] The middle name “Eastwood” came from his mother’s family, and he would later use it as part of his identity. Thompson married a woman named Lucy, and together they would become deeply involved in community life. With a background in business and a comfortable upbringing, Thompson was well-positioned to make significant contributions to society in his adult life.

Thompson permanently settled with his family in Cowes (the main town of Phillip Island) in 1912.^[1] Over the next several decades, he and Lucy devoted themselves to the welfare of the Phillip Island community “with a measure of tireless personal service and substantial material gifts”. Thompson soon became a leading figure in local civic affairs. He served as president of the Phillip Island Progress Association, using that platform to advocate for town improvements.^[2] One of his most visible projects was the beautification of central Cowes: Thompson instigated the planting of a mile-long avenue of Golden Cypress trees along the main street (which would later bear his name). Beginning in 1912, he organised staged plantings of these trees – enlisting the help of local schoolchildren and residents, and by 1935 both sides of the road were lined with a magnificent golden cypress avenue.^[2] Thompson had originally proposed a landscaped central median for the street, but when that plan was altered to the current layout, he still ensured the trees were planted along each side. This beautification earned Cowes renown for having one of the finest cypress-lined avenues in Australia .

Beyond Thompson Avenue, William Thompson championed many other “greening” projects on the island. He was responsible for planting Norfolk Island pines on Warley Avenue and adding palms and pines to the Cowes foreshore in the 1920s.^[2] He also partnered with other locals (such as Percy Hutchinson) to plant street trees like those along Steele Street. Thompson even saw to it that a shelter belt of pines was planted around three sides of the Cowes Recreation Reserve (football ground) for wind protection, and he pushed for proper drainage of the sports ground.^[2] In fact, he was a driving force behind establishing the Recreation Reserve in the first place. These efforts reveal Thompson’s foresight in environmental enhancement and community infrastructure long before such ideas were commonplace.

One of William and Lucy Thompson’s most enduring contributions was in the realm of healthcare. In the early 1920s, Phillip Island had no resident doctor or hospital. Urgent cases had to be ferried to the mainland, a difficult journey.^[3] Determined to improve this, the Thompsons stepped forward in 1923. They agreed to purchase a large house in Cowes known as “Buena Vista” (formerly owned by the Walpole family) and donate it for use as the island’s first hospital. Their offer came with the condition that local residents raise funds to furnish and equip the facility. The community enthusiastically obliged, and the house was fittingly renamed Warley, after Mr. Thompson’s family home in England, once it became a hospital.^[4]

Warley Bush Nursing Hospital officially opened on 8 December 1923 with six patient beds and a modern operating theatre. It was Victoria’s first Bush Nursing Hospital, a model private community hospital affiliated with the Victorian Bush Nursing Association. The Thompsons’ gift, was instrumental in establishing this vital service. They are arguably the greatest benefactors to Phillip Island for this act.^[3] Warley Hospital saved countless lives and spared locals the hardship of long trips to Melbourne; it remained the island’s medical centre for 85 years (serving from 1923 until its closure in 2008). The Thompsons’ philanthropy thus had an impact on generations of Phillip Islanders.

In July 1937, the people of Phillip Island showed their gratitude to the Thompsons in a special way. At a public ceremony attended by dignitaries and hosted by the Shire Council, the main street of Cowes was officially named Thompson Avenue in their honour.^[1] By this time, the golden cypress trees William had planted were maturing, forming the grand avenue that became a local landmark. After nearly four decades on Phillip Island, William and Lucy Thompson bade farewell to the island community in 1950. A large civic reception was held at the Erehwon Guest House where representatives of every local organization gathered to thank them. It was noted at this event that the Thompsons had done “much more than was generally known” for the island, a testament to their humility and behind-the-scenes generosity. The couple moved off Phillip Island in their later years (likely to be closer to family or medical care). Descendants of the Thompson family still live on the island as of the 21st century, preserving the family’s local ties.

William Eastwood Thompson died in November 1952 at the age of 85.^[5] His life dates are often given as circa 1870–1955 in local records, but contemporary reports indicate he passed away in late 1952. Even in death, he continued to benefit others. He directed most of his estate to charitable causes in Australia, including church missions and two major hospitals in Melbourne.

Today, William E. Thompson’s legacy is woven into Phillip Island’s history. Thompson Avenue remains the bustling heart of Cowes, its canopy of golden cypress trees a living monument to his vision. Although the original Warley Hospital building was replaced in the 1960s, the story of its founding is a cherished chapter in local heritage, and Warley’s name lives on in the annals of Victorian rural health care. Many other improvements, from shady foreshore reserves to the recreation oval can be traced to Thompson’s initiatives. In local memory he is celebrated as a community benefactor and pioneer, a man who combined the resources of a successful business career with a genuine love for Phillip Island. Through his contributions to infrastructure, beautification, health services, and civic life, William Eastwood Thompson left an indelible mark on the island community he adopted and adored.