Chairman W W Richardson Biography

W.W. Richardson                          (1832 -  1924)

Chairman Agricultural Society of New South Wales 1882 - 1884

 William Wright Richardson was born at Windsor, the eldest son of Dr William Richardson, a well known surgeon who had arrived in the colony with Governor Darling. Along with his brother, Richardson opened up land on the Bogan River, and later ran cattle stations at Nyngan and in south-western Queensland.

Though only a newcomer to the Society, he seized the opportunity to take a leading role in the rebuilding of the organisation after its near collapse in 1881. As one of the most active members of the small emergency board established to stabilise finances and build the new Moore Park Showground, he naturally succeeded Walter Lamb as its chairman.

Richardson gave personal bank guarantees and large donations to support the Society in the early days of the crisis and worked tirelessly supervising the layout, construction and improvements to the new grounds. His leadership, and the energetic work of the other four board members, was so effective that the reinstatement of the Council and normal procedures was postponed until 1884. While a president was then elected, Richardson continued as chairman until he withdrew four years later.

William Wright Richardson died at his Gray Street home in Kogarah aged 92.

A full list of Presidents can be found here.