the Honourable Chief Justice Harold Sprent Nicholas MLC | |
|---|---|
| Chief Judge in Equity of the Supreme Court of New South Wales | |
| In office 1939–1948 | |
| Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales | |
| In office 1935–1948 | |
| Legislative Council of New South Wales | |
| In office 1932–1935 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 January 1877 |
| Died | 11 June 1953 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | United Australia Party |
| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Oxford |
| Profession | Politician, judge, lawyer, journalist |
Early life
editHarold Sprent Nicholas (1877–1953) was an Australian judge, journalist and politician. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1877 to William and Alice (née Sprent) Nicholas, daughter of James Sprent. Harold spent his childhood in Bothwell at the family property Nant, and was educated at The Hutchins School, before earning his degree at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.[1]
Legal career
editNicholas was admitted to the bar of the Inner Temple in 1901 and returned to Australia in the same year, where he became a successful journalist writing for the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph. From 1929-34 he was founding editor of the Australian Quarterly.[1]
He was counsel advising the Royal Commission on the Constitution (1927–1929) and in December 1932 became a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales as a member of the United Australia Party, remaining a member until 1934.[2] In 1933-1935 he was the commissioner in a New South Wales Royal Commission into the creation of new states, of which no results came.[3] He was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1935, and become Chief Judge in Equity in 1939, remaining so until 1948.
Later life
editNicholas was Australian representative to the fourth meeting of UNESCO in 1949.
He died of coronary vascular disease on 11 June 1953.[4] His ashes are interred in Bothwell with his parents and first wife. The altar at St Michael and All Angels Church in Bothwell commemorates him.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ a b Ward, John (1988). "Nicholas, Harold Sprent (1877–1953)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 11. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "Mr Harold Sprent Nicholas (1877-1953)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Royal Commission of Inquiry Respecting Areas in the State of New South Wales Suitable for Self-government as States in the Commonwealth of Australia". search.records.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Hon. Mr Justice Harold Sprent Nicholas (MA (Oxon)". search.records.nsw.gov.au. NSW Government State Records Department. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Nicholas, Harold Sprent". Gravesites of Tasmania. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Harold Sprent Nicholas". Monument Australia. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
