Patrick Hills
Encyclopedia
Patrick Darcy 'Pat' Hills AO
(31 December 1917 - 22 April 1992) was a New South Wales
politician. He served in various high offices across the state most notably the Deputy Premier of New South Wales
, Leader of the Opposition
and as the Lord Mayor of Sydney.
suburb of Surry Hills
. He was educated at Marist Brothers High School, Darlinghurst
and was apprenticed as an electrical engineer.
He was an alderman on Sydney City Council
from 1948 to 1956 and Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1953 to 1956, when only in his thirties.
as the member for Phillip
in 1954, representing the Australian Labor Party
; he held the seat till its abolition in 1981. Then, until 1988, he served as member for Elizabeth
.
He was Minister for Local Government in the cabinet of Premier Robert Heffron
(1959-1964), and Deputy Premier under Heffron's successor Jack Renshaw
. Following Renshaw's departure from the Labor
leadership, Hills was the State Opposition Leader from 1968 to 1973; at the 1971
and 1973
state elections he was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Premier, Sir Robert Askin
.
During his long Parliamentary service of 34 years, the Hon Pat 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 3 years and Leader for 5 years.
His many notable initiatives and achievements as a Minister include the Sydney to Newcastle Highway, the construction of the Gladesville Bridge and establishment of the State Planning Authority now known as the NSW Department of Planning. One of his major achievements was the building of the Eraring and Bayswater power stations.
He served as a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sports Ground Trust from July 1961, to December 1989, and was Chairman of the Trust during its significant expansion period from 1977 to 1989.
Hills was the only parliamentary leader of the New South Wales Labor Party not to have been premier since World War II
. He died in Sydney.
in 1988.
The suburb of Hillsdale, New South Wales
is named after Hills.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(31 December 1917 - 22 April 1992) was a New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
politician. He served in various high offices across the state most notably the Deputy Premier of New South Wales
Deputy Premier of New South Wales
The Deputy Premier of New South Wales is the second-most senior officer in the Government of New South Wales. The Deputy Premiership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1932, and the Deputy Premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier....
, Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)
The role of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in New South Wales is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly...
and as the Lord Mayor of Sydney.
Early life
Hills was born in the SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Surry Hills
Surry Hills, New South Wales
Surry Hills is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Surry Hills is located immediately south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
. He was educated at Marist Brothers High School, Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
and was apprenticed as an electrical engineer.
He was an alderman on Sydney City Council
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
from 1948 to 1956 and Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1953 to 1956, when only in his thirties.
Political career
Hills was elected to the New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
as the member for Phillip
Electoral district of Phillip
Phillip was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, in central Sydney and named after Arthur Phillip, created in 1904 from part of Sydney-Phillip. It was initially south of Liverpool Street, east of George Street and City Road, north of...
in 1954, representing the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
; he held the seat till its abolition in 1981. Then, until 1988, he served as member for Elizabeth
Electoral district of Elizabeth (New South Wales)
Elizabeth was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1981, partly replacing Phillip, and including central Sydney and nearby suburbs. It was abolished in 1988.-Members for Elizabeth :...
.
He was Minister for Local Government in the cabinet of Premier Robert Heffron
Robert Heffron
Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:...
(1959-1964), and Deputy Premier under Heffron's successor Jack Renshaw
Jack Renshaw
John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
. Following Renshaw's departure from the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
leadership, Hills was the State Opposition Leader from 1968 to 1973; at the 1971
New South Wales state election, 1971
Elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 13 February 1971. The Liberal-Country Party coalition government led by Sir Robert Askin won a third term in office. The Labor Party opposition was led by Pat Hills.The...
and 1973
New South Wales state election, 1973
Elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 17 November 1973. The result was a win for the Liberal-Country Party coalition under Sir Robert Askin, which had been in office since 1965....
state elections he was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Premier, Sir Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
.
During his long Parliamentary service of 34 years, the Hon Pat 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 3 years and Leader for 5 years.
His many notable initiatives and achievements as a Minister include the Sydney to Newcastle Highway, the construction of the Gladesville Bridge and establishment of the State Planning Authority now known as the NSW Department of Planning. One of his major achievements was the building of the Eraring and Bayswater power stations.
He served as a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sports Ground Trust from July 1961, to December 1989, and was Chairman of the Trust during its significant expansion period from 1977 to 1989.
Hills was the only parliamentary leader of the New South Wales Labor Party not to have been premier since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He died in Sydney.
Honours
Hills was made an Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1988.
The suburb of Hillsdale, New South Wales
Hillsdale, New South Wales
Hillsdale is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Hillsdale is located 9 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the City of Botany Bay...
is named after Hills.