Athol Richardson
Encyclopedia
Athol Railton Richardson OBE
, QC
(15 May 1897 - 22 May 1982) was an Australian politician and judge. Richardson represented the Electoral district of Ashfield
for the United Australia Party
and the Liberal Party of Australia
from 26 March 1938 until 5 February 1952.
. Richardson jnr served in World War I
in the 2nd and 4th squadrons of the Australian Flying Corps in France
from 1917 till 1919. He married Isabel McCrea Watson on 23 February 1928 and had one daughter and one son.
for the United Australia Party
at the 1935
New South Wales State election. He was subsequently re-elected to the seat of Ashfield at the 1938, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1947 and 1950 elections.
During his time in parliament he held various ministerial portfolio's including Minister for Social Services (13 October 1938 - 5 August 1939), Minister for Health (22 February 1939 - 30 June 1939), Minister for Labour and Industry (26 June 1939 - 5 August 1939) and Colonial Treasurer (16 August 1939 - 16 May 1941). He was also Deputy Leader of the Opposition for 1941 until 1945.
Richardson retired from politics upon his appointment to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
in 1952. During his judicial tenure, Richardson remained a member of the Liberal Party of Australia
; Tom Hughes QC describes him as a man of 'orderly habits', but criticises him as 'a well-meaning man who gained marks only for sincerity and effort'. Richardson retired from the bench in 1967.
, New South Wales
, Australia
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(15 May 1897 - 22 May 1982) was an Australian politician and judge. Richardson represented the Electoral district of Ashfield
Electoral district of Ashfield
Ashfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, first created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member electoral districts from part of Canterbury, and named after the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. It was abolished in 1920, with the...
for the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
and the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
from 26 March 1938 until 5 February 1952.
Early life
Richardson was born to parents Stephen Arthur Richardson, a Salvation Army officer, and mother Elizabeth Sarah Urquhart in Newcastle, New South WalesNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
. Richardson jnr served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in the 2nd and 4th squadrons of the Australian Flying Corps in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1917 till 1919. He married Isabel McCrea Watson on 23 February 1928 and had one daughter and one son.
Political Career
Richardson entered politics by contesting and winning the Electoral district of AshfieldElectoral district of Ashfield
Ashfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, first created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member electoral districts from part of Canterbury, and named after the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. It was abolished in 1920, with the...
for the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
at the 1935
New South Wales State election. He was subsequently re-elected to the seat of Ashfield at the 1938, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1947 and 1950 elections.
During his time in parliament he held various ministerial portfolio's including Minister for Social Services (13 October 1938 - 5 August 1939), Minister for Health (22 February 1939 - 30 June 1939), Minister for Labour and Industry (26 June 1939 - 5 August 1939) and Colonial Treasurer (16 August 1939 - 16 May 1941). He was also Deputy Leader of the Opposition for 1941 until 1945.
Richardson retired from politics upon his appointment to the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
in 1952. During his judicial tenure, Richardson remained a member of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
; Tom Hughes QC describes him as a man of 'orderly habits', but criticises him as 'a well-meaning man who gained marks only for sincerity and effort'. Richardson retired from the bench in 1967.
Death and Honours
Richardson died on 22 May 1982, at Darling PointDarling Point, New South Wales
Darling Point is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darling Point is located 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of Woollahra Council....
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Honours received
- King's Counsel in 1951
- Officer Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1976 - Hon LLD New York 1968.