Richard Thomas Ball papers, including invitations, menus and correspondence, 1916-1937

MLMSS 9710

fonds

1916-1937

Textual Records, Ephemera, Photographs

1336515

0.02 metres of textual material, ephemera and 1 photograph (1 folder)

Richard Thomas Ball (1857-1937), engineer and politician, was born on 14 September 1857 at Surry Hills, Sydney. He was the eldest son of George Ball, farmer, and his wife Ann, née Hooper. His parents had immigrated to Sydney from Devonshire, England in 1857. Richard was educated at the Eastern Creek Public School, then was employed by Chapman & Co., engineers, and the Atlas Foundry & Engineering Works. He married Esther Arnold in 1880.

In 1881 Ball bought Burn & Son's foundry at Goulburn and had various partners until 1885 when he established R. T. Ball & Co. He served as an alderman on the Goulburn Municipal Council in 1887-94 and was mayor in 1890 and 1891.

Ball was a member of NSW State Parliament for 36 years. He entered Parliament in 1895 as the representative for Albury, and held the seat until 1898. He represented Corowa from 1904 until 1920, Murray from 1920 until 1927, and Corowa from 1927 until his death. He was Minister for Works and Railways, 1916-1920, Minister for Agriculture, 1922, Minister for Works and Railways and State Undertakings from 1922 until 1925, and Minister for Lands from 1927 until 1930.

As Minister for Works, Ball was responsible for passing through Parliament the Act authorising the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and he signed the contract for its erection. He also turned the first sod and laid the foundation corner-stone of the bridge on the south side of the harbour. He had the oversight of legislation connected with the construction of the George's River bridge and was also responsible for establishing the shipbuilding industry at the Government dockyard Walsh Island, Newcastle. Ball died in October 1937.

References:
Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ball-richard-thomas-1609 (accessed 3 September 2015)
Sydney Morning Herald, 1 November 1937, p. 12

Collection includes:

Red Cabinet folder embossed with 'The Honourable Richard Thomas Ball, M.L.A., Minister for Lands'.

Correspondence (9 pp.) relating to the erection of wheat elevators, 1916

Photograph of Richard Ball with two women and four children in front of a tomokanga (carved gateway), Rotorua, New Zealand, ca. 1920-1935

Menu for dinner held in honour of the visit of H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester, Town Hall, Sydney, 23 November 1934

Menu for farewell dinner held for Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Field, Parliament House, Sydney, 19 April 1924

Entry ticket to the establishment of Canberra as the Seat of Government of Australia by H.R.H. The Duke of York, Canberra, 9 May 1927

Timetable for the tour of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of York, 1927

Invitation to a garden party held in honour of the visit of H.R.H. The Duke of Gloucester, Government House, Sydney, 23 November 1934

Invitation to reception to commemorate the coronation of King George IV and Queen Elizabeth, Town Hall, Sydney, 13 May 1937

Annual report and financial statement of Sydney Hospital Auxiliary, 1932

Out of copyright: Published before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales