William Player was born in 1859 at Emu Plains, the son of Thomas and Hannah Player. He married Sylvia Smith, the youngest daughter of Thomas Smith, on 28 June 1883. They had three children, Sylvia, William Reginald and Sydney Reginald. William Player was licensee of the Orient Hotel in Emu Plains and the Red Cow Inn and Royal Hotel in Penrith. He was elected to Penrith Municipal Council in 1895 and was mayor from October 1898 to March 1899, following the resignation of Alfred Reid, the sitting Mayor. He was again elected Mayor in 1900. He did not stand for re-election in the 1901 elections. He died on 14 January 1922 and Sylvia died on 28 April 1929.
