Richard Richards (Australian politician) explained

Sir Richard Watkins Richards
Order:	46th Lord Mayor of Sydney
Term Start:	1 January 1914
Term End:	31 December 1915
Predecessor:	Arthur Cocks
Successor:	Richard Meagher
Term Start1:	11 March 1919
Term End1:	12 March 1920
Predecessor1:	John English
Successor1:	William Patrick Fitzgerald
Office3:	Alderman of the Sydney City Council
Term Start3:	1 December 1902
Term End3:	25 November 1905
Term Start4:	2 December 1912
Term End4:	30 November 1915
Constituency4:	Cook Ward
Term Start5:	23 May 1917
Term End5:	12 March 1920
Constituency5:	Lang Ward
Birth Date:	19 July 1863
Birth Place:	Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Death Place:	Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Spouse:	Minnie Adeline Booth (m. 1890–1920; his death)

Sir Richard Watkins Richards (19 July 1863  - 12 March 1920), commonly referred to as R. W. Richards, was Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1914 - 1915 and 1919 - 1920.^[1]

Early life and career

Richards was born in Wales in 1863 and came to New South Wales as a child. He was appointed City Surveyor in 1887 and retained this position until 1901.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} In 1919 he was appointed as a Director on the board of Sydney Hospital.^[7]

He was appointed to Dunedin City Council as Town Clerk and City Engineer in 1905 and was responsible for designing the first underground conveniences in this city, after designing the first one in Sydney 24 May 1901.^[8] His voluminous report into the options around underground facilities brought Dunedin into a new age of modernity around publicly supplied facilities.^[9] His plans can be found in the Dunedin City Council Archives.^[10] He resigned from Dunedin City Council in 1911 and returned to Sydney where he went into private practice.

Political career

He was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours but died three months later after a long illness.^{[11] [12]}

Richards was buried on 13 March 1920 at South Head Cemetery, Vaucluse, New South Wales.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Richard Watkins Richards. Sydney's Aldermen. City of Sydney. 16 March 2018.
2. News: Sir Richard Richards . The Sydney Morning Herald . 25,581 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 January 1920 . 16 March 2018 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT. . . 943 . New South Wales, Australia . 10 January 1920 . 16 March 2018 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: Appointment of Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney for the Year 1920 . Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales . 12 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 January 1920 . 16 March 2018 . 287 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: NEW LORD MAYOR. . The Daily Telegraph . 12429 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 March 1919 . 16 March 2018 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: Lord Mayor Alderman Richards Elected . The Sydney Morning Herald . 25,329 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 March 1919 . 16 March 2018 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: Government Gazette Appointments and Employment . Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales . 210 . New South Wales, Australia . 22 August 1919 . 16 March 2018 . 4637 . National Library of Australia.
8. Dunedin City Council, "Dunedin City Council Annual Report 1905-6"
9. Public Health Matters, Evening Star, Issue 12717, 18 July 1907
10. Web site: Manor Place Comfort Station 1919. December 1919.
11. News: NEW YEAR HONOURS . . 25,581 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 January 1920 . 16 March 2018 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
12. News: LORD MAYOR'S DEATH. . The Daily Telegraph . 12,742 . New South Wales, Australia . 13 March 1920 . 16 March 2018 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
13. News: LATE LORD MAYOR. . The Sydney Morning Herald . 25,644 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 March 1920 . 16 March 2018 . 6 . National Library of Australia.