William Mark Forster (7 October 1846 – 6 June 1921) was an Australian philanthropist, founder of the Gordon Institute for Boys and City Newsboys' Society.
Permissive occupancy of a piece of land in Bowen St. was granted and the Gordon Institute for Boys was built and the Newsboys' Society was transferred to it.
In 1890 the Gordon Institute was handed over to the management of Charles D. Barber, and Forster established another Newsboys' Society in a more central position at 192 Little Collins Street.
Forster and the organising secretary looked after this society until 1901 when he resigned due to health and business reasons; but he remained a member of the committee until his death.
[1] Other buildings were added in later years, and the institution became in effect a boys' club, largely managed by themselves, with gymnasium, swimming-pool, a library, and many classes, the fees for which were of the most trifling nature.
Forster's health in his later years did not allow him to give so much time to the society, but he retained his position as honorary leader with a seat on the board of management until his death on 6 June 1921.