Harold Antony Larkins

Brief description

PER-64

Full description

Harold Antony Larkins (known as Antony or Tony) was born on 20 October 1913 at Sydney, the son of Harold Matthew Larkins and his wife Mildred Celia nee Miles. He was educated at St Ignatius College, Riverview. He entered first year law at the University of Sydney in 1932 but appears to have left by 1936 without completing his degree. (1)

Larkins was admitted to the New South Wales Bar on 27 May 1938 after completing the Bar examinations and practised out of 167 Phillip Street, Sydney, and by 1945 174 Phillip Street. He built up an extensive practise after World War II, particularly in the Common Law jurisdiction. Described as a competent and polished cross-examiner, he was made a Queen's Counsel for New South Wales in 1955. With a large practise in the appellate jurisdiction, he appeared before the Privy Council in a number of notable appeals in 1955, 1962, 1966 and 1967. A specialist in the law of defamation, he was also admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1969. He appeared at several Royal Commissions and inquiries into the radio and television industries. In 1947 he was the first Honorary Secretary of the Medico-Legal Society of NSW. (2)

During World War II, Larkins served in the Australian Army. He transferred from the militia on 5 August 1942 and served two years in New Guinea. At the time of his discharge on 22 December 1944, he was a Major in the Australian Army Legal Corps. (3)

Larkins was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 18 October 1971. He retired on 30 July 1983. Initially he worked in the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes jurisdiction. (4)

Larkins was active in the community. He was an Honorary Director of the Asthma Foundation of New South Wales from 1961 to 1963 and a Councillor in 1963. He was a Director of the Foundation for Research and Treatment of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (FRATADD) NSW from 1968 to at least 1985. He was president of the Judge Rainbow Memorial Fund from 1982 to 1983. The Fund honours Judge Alfred Rainbow and operates a half-way house for recently released male prisoners who are at risk of homelessness. He was a trustee of the Seaborn Broughton and Walford Foundation, a charity set up in 1986 for the Australian Performing Arts. It saved the Stables Theatre in Kings Cross and has assisted many theatre companies including the Griffin Theatre Company. (5)

Larkins died on 27 November 1989 at Sydney, survived by his sister and two of his four brothers. He was unmarried. (6)


Endnotes
1. Who's Who in Australia, Melbourne, The Herald, 1959, p.463; 1962, p.494; 1965, p.497; 1968, p.515; 1971, p.574; 1974, p.618; 1977, p.645; 1980, p.505; 1983, p.506; 1985, pp.502-3; Australian Law Journal, Vol.64, p.164 (March 1990); NSW marriage certificate 13509/1910 Harold M Larkins and Mildred C Miles; University of Sydney Calendar, 1932, p.739; 1933, p.748; 1934, pp.527, 763; 1935, pp.539, 782, http://calendararchive.usyd.edu.au/index.php (cited 27 May 2008).
2. Barrister and Solicitors Admission Boards; NRS 13665, Roll of Barristers, 17 February 1927 - 10 June 1955; Reel 2147, p.13; New South Wales Law Almanac, 1939, p.76; 1945, p.65; 1956, p.82; Australian Law Journal, Vol.45, p.776 (December 1971); Vol.64, p.164 (March 1990); Who's Who in Australia, op.cit..
3. 'Larkins, Harold Antony', Department of Veterans Affairs World War 2 Nominal Roll, http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=234046 (cited 10 November 2008); Australian Law Journal, Vol.45, p.776 (December 1971).
4. Australian Law Journal, op.cit.; New South Wales Law Reports, Sydney, Law Book Company Ltd, 1971, vol.1, pp.vii-viii; 1983, Vol.3, p.ix.
5. Who's Who in Australia, op.cit.; 'About Us (Judge Rainbow Memorial Fund Inc), http://sites.google.com/site/judgerainbow/about-us (cited 10 November 2008); 'Seaford Broughton and Walford Foundation', http://users.tpg.com.au/sbwf/about.html (cited 10 November 2008); 'Griffin Theatre::SBW Foundation', http://www.griffintheatre.com.au/About-Us/SBW-Foundation.cfm (cited 10 November 2008).
6. Sydney Morning Herald, 2 December 1989, p.148; Who's Who in Australia, op.cit..

Notes

Judge, Supreme Court of New South Wales, 18/10/1971 - 30/07/1983