About Us
We are an active incorporated Chamber of Commerce formed in 1924 by the then mayor of Bexley Municipality, Alderman FS Stephens.
Our Mission
Advocacy & Development
We support business development, encourage cross-promotion, and advocate to local and state government for improved and well-maintained public spaces.
Our proudest achievement was helping to raise $650,000 to establish the Bexley Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank. Our bank opened in 2004 at a time when all other financial institutions had deserted Bexley.
Leadership
Management
Our operations are managed by a committee comprising a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and ordinary committee members. Members of the committee volunteer their time and home office resources freely.
The committee is elected at our AGM (normally held in December) and meets on an as-needs basis. We adopt the model constitution of the Associations Incorporation Regulation 2022.
Past Presidents of Note
We are currently researching the history of the Bexley Chamber of Commerce and will update this website as information comes to hand. Two presidents that stand out are John Francis McGrath and Beverley Scott.
John Francis McGrath
1 September 1893 – 20 December 1971
John Francis McGrath was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Rockdale, from 1941 until 1959. Born in Chicago, he migrated to Australia at age nine. McGrath leased the Bexley Hotel (now the Forest Inn) in the 1930s and became a proprietor of other hotels in the area.
He was active in many community organisations and president of the Bexley Chamber of Commerce from 1936 until 1970. He also served as an alderman on the Bexley Municipal Council from 1937 to 1944. His entrepreneurial spirit lives on in his grandson John McGrath, who founded the McGrath real estate company in 1988.
Beverley Scott
4 May 1934 – 7 May 2023
Beverley Scott was a pharmacist with a strong interest in the Bexley business community. She established Scott’s Pharmacy in 1959 on Forest Road, Bexley, and joined the Chamber soon after. She served as Vice President from 1976 to 1986, and then President until 2006.
With the backing of the Chamber, Beverley was the main instigator in establishing a Community Bank in Bexley when all big banks had left. She chaired the steering committee and became the inaugural Vice-Chairman of the company operating the bank. Perhaps her greatest achievement was keeping the Bexley Chamber of Commerce alive and active through many difficult challenges over the years.
Beverley is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Fred Scott, as well as 3 sons, 13 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Our Mission
A Century of Advocacy
The mission of Bexley Chamber of Commerce is to promote Bexley Village as a viable service and shopping precinct. We support business development, encourage cross-promotion and advocate to government for improved and well-maintained public spaces.
Over the years we have been involved in various issues important to the well-being of Bexley Town Centre, its businessmen and women and their customers. Some of these issues are described below:
Traffic
Traffic through Bexley has waxed and waned over the decades, influenced heavily by major infrastructure developments such as the opening of Sydney International Airport in 1970 and Port Botany in 1979. Positioned on a key state road linking eastern and western Sydney, Bexley has long carried the burden of regional traffic flows.
In 1988, a pro-freeway group — the Earlwood Rockdale Transport Action Group (ERTAG) — was formed to advocate for a motorway connection from Beverly Hills to Arncliffe to divert heavy traffic away from suburban streets and town centres. The Bexley Chamber of Commerce was an active participant in ERTAG, and the opening of the M5 East tunnel in 2001 delivered significant relief from congestion, noise, and pollution for almost two decades.
However, in 2020, tolls were introduced on both the M5 and the new M8, creating a free alternative route through local streets. Heavy traffic, particularly trucks, returned to our area. The Chamber has since taken a leading role in lobbying government to encourage motorists to use the motorway network rather than the toll-free suburban option. While some progress has been made, the issue remains unresolved.
Spring Fair
From 1998 to 2012, the Bexley Chamber of Commerce was renowned for staging our annual Spring Fair in the Town Centre. At a time when few local business groups were attempting events of this scale, we were genuine ground-breakers — bringing thousands of people into Bexley, energising local traders, and setting a benchmark for community-led activation.
Community Bank Bexley
By the early 2000s, Bexley had lost most of its major banks and building societies, creating a significant gap in local financial services. In 2001, the Bexley Chamber of Commerce led a successful community campaign to establish our Community Bank Bexley which has been proudly operating in Bexley Town Centre since 2004.
Streetscape Upgrade
After several years of sustained lobbying by the Chamber, a major upgrade of the public domain in Bexley Town Centre was completed in 2022. The works extended along Forest Road from the intersection with Dunmore Street in the south to Westminster Street in the north, with additional improvements carried into several cross streets. The project delivered new pavement, street furniture, soft landscaping, and a community noticeboard in Rathbone Place. We are grateful to both local and state government for helping bring this long-awaited improvement to life.
Community Engagement
Throughout the year, the Chamber hosts a variety of events designed to strengthen community engagement. A standout example is our monthly Bexley Locals Trivia evenings. These gatherings provide a relaxed and enjoyable setting for local business operators to meet and mingle with residents, and to socialise with their own staff and teams outside the workplace.
Our trivia nights also create valuable opportunities for cross-referral between complementary businesses, helping to support the wider community and contributing to a thriving local town centre.
Get Involved
Chamber members are welcome to attend committee meetings to discuss issues of concern. For details of present committee members and the next planned meeting, please contact us.
