Pat Hills
Pat Hills | |
---|---|
6thDeputy Premier of New South Wales | |
In office 30 April 1964 – 13 May 1965 | |
Premier | Jack Renshaw |
Preceded by | Jack Renshaw |
Succeeded by | Charles Cutler |
22ndLeader of the Opposition of New South Wales Elections:1971,1973 | |
In office 2 December 1968 – 17 November 1973 | |
Deputy | Syd Einfeld |
Preceded by | Jack Renshaw |
Succeeded by | Neville Wran |
68thLord Mayor of Sydney | |
In office 9 December 1952 – 30 November 1956 | |
Deputy | Frank Green Kevin Dwyer Anthony Doherty |
Preceded by | Ernest Charles O'Dea |
Succeeded by | Harry Jensen |
Aldermanof theSydney City Council | |
In office 4 December 1948 – 4 December 1953 | |
Constituency | Flinders Ward |
In office 5 December 1953 – 30 November 1956 | |
Constituency | City Ward |
Personal details | |
Born | Patrick Darcy Hills 31 December 1917 Surry Hills,New South Wales,Australia |
Died | 22 April 1992 Sydney,New South Wales, Australia | (aged 74)
Resting place | Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens |
Political party | Labor |
Spouse | Stella Steele Hills |
Patrick Darcy HillsAO(31 December 1917 – 22 April 1992) was a New South Wales politician. He served in various high offices across the state most notably theDeputy Premier of New South Wales,Leader of the Oppositionand as theLord Mayor of Sydney.
Early life
[edit]Hills was born in theSydneysuburb ofSurry Hills.He was educated at Marist Brothers High School,Darlinghurstand was apprenticed as an electrical engineer.[1]
He was an alderman onSydney City Councilfrom 1948 to 1956 andLord Mayor of Sydneyfrom 1953 to 1956, during which time he was fooled into carrying afake Olympic torch.[2]
Political career
[edit]Hills was elected to theNew South Wales Legislative Assemblyas the member forPhillipin 1954, representing theLabor Party;he held the seat till its abolition in 1981. Then, until 1988, he served as member forElizabeth.
He was Minister for Local Government in the cabinet of PremierRobert Heffron(1959-1964). When Heffron retired in April 1964, Hills and Deputy PremierJack Renshawwere considered the most likely successors, but his relative youth and manner compared to Renshaw was seen as an obstacle, as an article inThe Bulletinnoted: "Hills, who rose rapidly in the parliamentary party under the patronage of the late Joe Cahill, lists in “Who’s Who”one of his hobbies as “study of local government administration”, a demonstration of his essential dourness. He has the vice, for a politician, of not suffering fools gladly and it is this that feeds a habit of arrogance which has made him many unnecessary enemies. "[3]
In any event, Hills did not contest the leadership in the caucus ballot held on 29 April 1964, and Renshaw was elected leader and premier unopposed. Hills did however contest for the deputy premiership, and was successful 33 votes to 19 against health ministerBill Sheahan.[4]
Following Renshaw's departure from theLaborleadership, Hills was the State Opposition Leader from 1968 to 1973; at the1971and1973state elections he was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Premier, SirRobert Askin.
During his long Parliamentary service of 34 years, Hills served terms as Deputy Premier and as Minister in a number of portfolios including Local Government, Highways, Mines, Energy, Industrial Relations, Technology, Roads and Employment. In opposition he served as Deputy Leader for three years and Leader for five years. His many notable initiatives and achievements as a Minister include the Sydney to Newcastle Highway, the construction of theGladesville Bridgeand establishment of the State Planning Authority now known as the NSW Department of Planning. One of his major achievements was the building of theEraringandBayswaterpower stations. He has been accused of sabotaging the 1948Cumberland County Planfor Sydney, "flogging the green belt out the back door before the ink was dry".[5]
Later life and career
[edit]He served as a member of theSydney Cricket Ground and Sports Ground Trustfrom July 1961 to December 1989, and was Chairman of the Trust during its significant expansion period from 1977 to 1989. UntilJohn Robertson's resignation in 2014, Hills was the only New South Wales Labor Leader not to have been premier sinceWorld War II.
Hills died in Sydney and was cremated with his ashes interred atNorthern Suburbs Memorial Gardens.
Honours
[edit]Hills was made an Officer of theOrder of Australia(AO) in the 1988Australia Day Honours.[6]
The suburb ofHillsdale, New South Walesis named after Hills.
References
[edit]- ^"The Hon. Patrick Darcy Hills (1917-1992)".Former members of theParliament of New South Wales.Retrieved27 April2019.
- ^"Patrick Darcy Hills".Sydney's Aldermen.City of Sydney.Retrieved10 April2018.
- ^Hall, Richard (15 February 1964)."Dumping a Premier: The struggle for succession".The Bulletin.86(4382): 7.Retrieved28 July2022.
- ^"Mr. Renshaw Takes Over Today".The Canberra Times.Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 April 1964. p. 1.Retrieved28 July2022– via National Library of Australia.
- ^"A real city needs more than just tying up loose ends".17 December 2014.
- ^"HILLS, Patrick Darcy - Officer of the Order of Australia".It's an Honour database.Australian Government. 26 January 1988.Retrieved10 April2018.
For service to the New South Wales Parliament and to local government.
- 1917 births
- 1992 deaths
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
- Deputy premiers of New South Wales
- Officers of the Order of Australia
- Mayors and Lord Mayors of Sydney
- Leaders of the Opposition in New South Wales
- Politicians from Sydney
- Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales
- Australian Labor Party councillors
- 20th-century Australian politicians
- Councillors of Sydney County Council
- Burials at Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens