Sir William Portus CULLEN (1855 - 1935)

Date of Birth: 28/05/1855
Place of Birth: Jamberoo, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 06/04/1935
Place of Death: Leura, New South Wales, Australia

The Parliamentary Archives does not have a picture of this Member.

Parliamentary Service

Position	Start	End	Period	Parliament	Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council	13 Aug 1885	25 Jan 1910	24yrs 5mths 13days		Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 8 August 1895.
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly	20 Jun 1891	25 Jun 1894	3yr(s) 6day(s)
Agricultural Holdings Bill Committee No.24	18 Apr 1893	30 May 1893	1mth 13days	15th (1891 - 1894)
Member for Camden	20 Jun 1891	25 Jun 1894	3yr(s) 6day(s)	15th (1891 - 1894)
Willoughby and Gordon Tramway Act Amending Bill Committee No.13	13 May 1890	20 May 1890	8days	14th (1889 - 1891)	Chairman
Tumut School of Arts Site Sale Bill Committee No.30	27 Aug 1890	4 Sep 1890	9days	14th (1889 - 1891)
The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1	15 Jul 1891	15 Jul 1891	1day	15th (1891 - 1894)
Casino School of Arts Enabling Bill Committee No.9	5 Aug 1891	17 Sep 1891	1mth 13days	15th (1891 - 1894)
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2	31 Aug 1892	31 Aug 1892	1day	15th (1891 - 1894)
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2	27 Sep 1893	8 Dec 1893	2mths 12days	15th (1891 - 1894)
Library Committee No.4	27 Sep 1893	8 Dec 1893	2mths 12days	15th (1891 - 1894)
Library Committee No.4	23 Jan 1894	11 Jun 1894	4mths 20days	16th (1894 - 1895)
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2	23 Jan 1894	11 Jun 1894	4mths 20days	16th (1894 - 1895)

Community Activity

Trustee of the Public Library of New South Wales 1914 - 1935. Director of Prince Alfred Hospital 1915 until 1935. President of the Relief Committee for Polish War Victims 1915. President Boys’ Brigade

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Lawyer (barrister). Chief Justice of New South Wales, and was Lieutenant –Governor of New South Wales between 1910 and 1930. Educated at Kiama Public School and later at Calder House, Redfern, Cullen won a scholarship to study at the University of Sydney where he proved to be a brilliant student. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1880 (with first class honours in classics), a Masters Degree in 1882, a Bachelor of Laws in 1885 and a Doctorate in Law in 1887. In 1905 was appointed King's Counsel (KC). From 1882 until 1884 he was the examiner of Arts at the University of Sydney, and in 1882 he was also the tutor of St Paul’s College. In 1883 he was called to the Bar and between 1893 - 1894 he lectured in law at the University of Sydney. Between 1896-1934 he was a Fellow, Sydney University Senate and from 1908 - 1911 served as Vice - Chancellor of the university before being made Chancellor in 1914. He held this post until 1934.

Honours Received

Knighted in 1911. Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) 1912.

Personal

Son of John Cullen, farmer, and his wife Rebecca Clinton. Married Eliza Jane (Lily), the daughter of Robert Hoddle Driberg White (also a Member of the Legislative Assembly and later a Member of the Legislative Council), in 1891and had issue, 2 sons and 2 daughters. Brother of Joseph Francis Cullen who was also a Member of the Legislative Assembly. Church of England

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3

Last modified 15/09/2008 13:30:04 : Update this page