William Eastwood Thompson
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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. His business background and financial security enabled him to support local initiatives.[2]
Thompson permanently settled with his family in Cowes (the main town of Phillip Island) in 1912.[1] Over subsequent decades, he and his wife were involved in a range of local civic and community activities. Thompson also served as president of the Phillip Island Progress Association, where he advocated for improvements to the town.[3]
One of his most visible projects was the planting of a long avenue of Golden Cypress trees along the main street of Cowes. Beginning in 1912, the trees were planted in stages with assistance from local residents and schoolchildren. By 1935, both sides of the street were lined with cypress trees, and the road later became known as Thompson Avenue. An earlier proposal for a landscaped central median was altered,[by whom?] but the tree plantings proceeded along the roadside instead.[3][4]
William Thompson also championed many other greening projects on the island.[2] He was responsible for planting Norfolk Island pines on Warley Avenue and adding palms and pines to the Cowes foreshore in the 1920s.[3] 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.[3]