General News
3 July, 2026
Veteran councillor’s passing mourned
Tributes from throughout the Central Goldfields have poured in for Chris Meddows-Taylor, who is being remembered for his extensive advocacy, calibre and dedication to the region.
Mr Meddows-Taylor was born in London. While he only lived in England until he was 10 years old, he enjoyed many returns to the United Kingdom throughout his life.
He went on to study political science at LaTrobe University and public policy at the University of Melbourne, before embarking on international studies and human resources at Cornell University.
By 1979, this experience led him to various state public service positions across nearly 20 years, which included senior roles with the premier, state cabinet and the department of education.
In 1994, he began 10 years with BHP Group, working in executive human resource positions and people strategy roles.
It was at this time Mr Meddows-Taylor bought a weekender in Talbot. By 2002, he decided to permanently call the area home.
Shortly after, he became vice president of Talbot Action Inc and joined Winning Communities.
Prompted by his community involvement, passion for the region’s heritage and concerns for council’s smaller townships, Mr Meddows-Taylor ran and was first elected as a Central Goldfields Shire councillor in 2005, and then mayor in 2007.
Not long after he was elected, Mr Meddows-Taylor formed the shire’s Community Grants Program, created to support volunteer groups and events in what is one of the most disadvantaged municipalities in the state.
This was a move he was proud of, and a program that has continued to grow and still supports several volunteer organisations to this day.
Following extensive work in community and local government, Mr Meddows-Taylor received the Municipal Association of Victoria’s Mayor Emeritus award in 2009.
During that time, he began his involvement in the Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive’s World Heritage Bid, championing the master plan and tourism agenda, leading the commissioning of a study on tourism of the goldfields region, and developing the partnership of 15 local government authorities, work regarded by the organisation as “extremely significant in the development of the World Heritage Bid”.
Appointed the chair of the Victorian Goldfields Tourism Executive in the 2010s, he played an active leadership role in the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Listing bid, supported by partnerships across neighbouring local governments and regional tourism boards.
Through this work, Mr Meddows-Taylor went on to become an Honorary research fellow at Federation University.
By November 2022, Mr Meddows-Taylor had completed his sixth term as mayor with Central Goldfields Shire Council.
As both mayor and councillor, he advocated for local initiatives including increased rail services, the Talbot Structure Plan and better tele-communications.
He held many local leadership roles throughout this time, including president of Asteria and vice-president of Havilah, and partnered with various Talbot organisations, including his work toward re-establishing the popular Talbot Farmers Market.
In a statement released earlier this week, the Victoria Goldfields Tourism Executive regarded him as a “long standing champion”.
“It is no exaggeration to say that without Chris, the World Heritage bid may not exist as it does today,” they said.
“His contribution and legacy are immeasurable, and he will be proudly missed.”
Despite his loss to current mayor Ben Green in the 2024 local government elections, Mr Meddows-Taylor continued in the background silently, and without fan fair, supporting councillors’ efforts to return the community grants and tips to the recent budget, a highly contentious community issue at the time.
Cr Green said Mr Meddows-Taylor was a “true gentleman” and a champion for community development.
“We were fortunate to have someone of Chris’ calibre in our community, and we’re grateful for his service and contributions,” Cr Green said.
“Our sincere condolences go to his partner and family.”