David Henry McKillop

Brief description

PER-118

Full description

David Henry McKillop was born at Helensburgh, New South Wales, in 1901, possibly on 12 November. He was the son of Archibald McKillop and his wife Elizabeth nee Ridley. His father died in 1915. David worked as a solicitor's clerk, but left to travel and work in the inland, droving along Cooper's Creek and the Birdsville Track. When he returned to Sydney, he studied at night, first to matriculate and then to pass the Barristers Admission examinations. He was called to the NSW Bar on 24 May 1935. (1)

McKillop initially read with EW Street and practised primarily in Equity, out of 170 Phillip Street (1936-1938), 167 Phillip Street (1939-1941) and 174 Phillip Street (1942-1950). On 20 April 1950 he was appointed Acting Master in Equity, initially for two months while the Master, JR Hooton, was ill, but McKillop served till September. (2)

On 11 December 1950 McKillop was made a Judge of the District Court of New South Wales and Chairman of Quarter Sessions. He presided in the Western District from 1951 to 1954, all districts from 1955 to 1963 and the Metropolitan District from 1964 to 1971. He retired on 12 November 1971.(3)

McKillop was interested in Australian history and in the Anglican Church in the Pacific area. He was president of the Oriental Society of Australia. (4)

McKillop died on 10 November 1979, survived by his two daughters. His wife, Sarah Haidee Athleen nee Stephens, whom he married in 1936, and their son died before him. (5)


Endnotes
1. Who's Who in Australia, Melbourne, The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, 1971, p.633; HJH Henchman, A Court Rises: the lives and times of the judges of the District Court of New South Wales. Supplement No.1. 1959-1982, Judge 59, Syd., Law Foundation of New South Wales, 1982, n.p.; NSW marriage certificate 3953/1900 Archibald H McKillop and Elizabeth Ridley; NSW birth certificate 32250/1901 David H McKillop; NRS 13665, Barrister and Solicitors Admission Boards; Roll of Barristers, 17 February 1927 - 10 June 1955; Reel 2147, p.9.
2. HJH Henchman, op.cit.; New South Wales Law Almanac, Sydney, NSW Government Printer, 1936, p.77; 1939, p.167; 1942, p.71; 1950, p.67; Australian Law Journal, Vol.24, p.21 (18 May 1950); p.319 (14 December 1950).
3. HJH Henchman, op.cit.; New South Wales Law Almanac, op.cit., 1951, p.50; 1955, p.57; 1964, p.65; 1971, p.70.
4. HJH Henchman, op.cit.
5. ibid.; Sydney Morning Herald, 15 November 1979, p.22, 28 October 1977.

Notes

Acting Master in Equity, 20/04/1950 - 30/09/1950
Judge, District Court of New South Wales, 11/12/1950 - 12/11/1971
Chairman, Court of Quarter Sessions, New South Wales, 11/12/1950 - 12/11/1971