William Walker (New South Wales colonial politician)

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

{{for|the NSW politician William Walker who was the member for Windsor (1860–1869) & Legislative Council (1888–1908)|William Walker (New South Wales politician)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}

{{other people5|William Walker (disambiguation){{!}}William Walker}}

William Benjamin Walker (1820 – 9 January 1889) was a politician, merchant, pastoralist and yachtsman from New South Wales, Australia.

Walker was the second son of William Walker, a prominent merchant in early colonial Australia.{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Vivienne |last=Parsons |title=Walker, William (1787–1854) |id2=walker-william-2767 |year=1967 |access-date=2020-03-19}}

Walker was originally a pastoralist, operating a series of stations in the Bega region, based out of the Kamarooka Estate.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70610666 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=Australian Town & Country Journal |location=Sydney |date=24 November 1877 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=41 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167352133 |title=Sylvester Browne family |newspaper=The Newcastle Sun |location=NSW |date=24 December 1938 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=3 |via=Trove}} He was later a merchant in Sydney, operating the firm of William Walker & Co.{{cite web | url=http://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/64228/jul26-10c_and_eage.pdf | title=Community and Environment Committee | publisher=Woollahra Municipal Council| date=26 July 2010 | accessdate=31 October 2015}} He built and lived in the Redleaf mansion at Double Bay, which he named after his parents' house in England.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47805832 |title=Famous home will become new social rendezvous. |newspaper=Australian Women's Weekly | date=23 November 1940 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=7 |via=Trove}}{{cite web | url=http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/cockshott-constance-14235 | title=Cockshott, Constance (1837–1919) | publisher=Obituaries Australia | accessdate=31 October 2015}} The property survives, and now serves as the council chambers for the Municipality of Woollahra.{{cite web | url=http://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/150/places/present_council_chambers | title=Present Council Chambers | publisher=Municipality of Woollahra | accessdate=31 October 2015}}{{cite NSW SHR|2711246|"Redleaf" — Woollahra Council Chambers |access-date=5 January 2021}} He served in the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1863 until his resignation in 1867.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13139590 |title=Mr William Walker has resigned from the Legislative Council |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 May 1867 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=5 |via=Trove}} He was involved in the establishment of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in 1863, and served as its Commodore until resigning in 1867; he was reportedly departing permanently for England.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65467252 |title=Aquatics |newspaper=Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle |location=NSW |date=13 April 1867 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=3 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63513449 |title=Retrospect |newspaper=Illustrated Sydney News |date=16 May 1867 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=1 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13081876 |title=Summary of the monthly news |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 July 1863 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=5 |via=Trove}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13141511 |title=Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 April 1867 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=5 |via=Trove}} In 1870, he was reported to have been cruising the Mediterranean and to be preparing for the racing season in England.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65472330 |title=Aquatics |newspaper=Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle |location=NSW |date=18 June 1870 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=2 |via=Trove}} He had also been president of the Anniversary Regatta Committee.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128801123 |title=Advertising |newspaper=The Freeman's Journal |location=Sydney |date=16 January 1864 |accessdate=31 October 2015 |page=1 |via=Trove}}{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=202 |name=Mr William Walker |former=Yes |access-date=12 April 2019}}

He was married to Corentia (née Browne), sister of Rolf Boldrewood. Their second son, Cecil, died in the shipwreck of the Avalanche off Portland in 1877.

Walker died in {{death year and age|1889|1820}}.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146022293 |title=Will of Mr William Benjamin Walker |newspaper=Table Talk |date=10 May 1889 |accessdate=5 January 2021 |page=7 |via=Trove}}