Lot 3257

Description

Sydney International Exhibition, 1879, in silver (76mm), no stop after CCC in date, by J.S.& A.B.Wyon, reverse inscribed, 'Richard Hill,/Commissioner.' Scuffing and small edge nicks, otherwise nearly very fine.

Richard Hill, pastoralist and politician, was born on 22 September 1810 at Sydney. After leaving school he was involved in various business activities and at one time managed William Wentworth's Vaucluse estate and was later agent for his city property. He was prominent in horticultural activities and other pastoral pursuits. He was also a magistrate and active in politics as a member of the Legislative Assembly and a champion for the cause of the aboriginal people. He held many important government appointments and was a commissioner for the Sydney International Exhibition. He died at his Bent Street home on 19 August 1895 and was buried at Waverley Cemetery. See his full biography by Martha Rutledge published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 4, (MUP), 1972.