John Richardson (New South Wales politician)
Encyclopedia
John Richardson was an Australian pastoralist, store keeper and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
on three occasions (1851-54, 1855-56 and 1868-87) and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1856 and 1859.
.
(including Brisbane and Ipswich) which, prior to the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony in 1859, was part of New South Wales. At the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the two members for the same seat. At the 1859 election, Richardson successfully stood for the seat of Brisbane
but resigned from the seat when Queensland was granted self-government. In 1868 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council. He did not hold a parliamentary or ministerial position.
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
on three occasions (1851-54, 1855-56 and 1868-87) and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
between 1856 and 1859.
Early life
Richardson was the son of a Presbyterian minister and was educated at parish schools. He initially worked in London as a linen draper and emigrated to Sydney in 1838. By 1842 he had established a store in Brisbane and also developed a shipping agency. Philosophically a liberal, he became politically active during the 1840s and 1850s and opposed the importation of cheap labour, whether coolie or convict and also opposed the conservative constitution proposed by William Wentworth. Richardson developed a number of pastoral stations in the Darling Downs region and also owned a large general store in ArmidaleArmidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
.
State Parliament
In 1851, prior to the establishment of responsible government, Richardson was elected to the semi-elected Legislative Council. He represented the electorate of Stanley county until 1854 when he resigned his seat to undertake a long tour of Britain. On his return in 1855 he won a by-election for the seat of Stanley BoroughsElectoral district of Stanley Boroughs
Stanley Boroughs was a former electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1856 election, named after the County of Stanley and including the towns of North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point and Ipswich. The surrounding rural parts of...
(including Brisbane and Ipswich) which, prior to the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony in 1859, was part of New South Wales. At the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the two members for the same seat. At the 1859 election, Richardson successfully stood for the seat of Brisbane
Electoral district of Brisbane (New South Wales)
Brisbane was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created for the July 1859 election, partly replacing Stanley Boroughs and including Brisbane. It was abolished in December 1859, with the establishment of Queensland as a separate...
but resigned from the seat when Queensland was granted self-government. In 1868 he accepted a life appointment to the Legislative Council. He did not hold a parliamentary or ministerial position.