Alban Riley


Alban Joseph Riley was an Australian politician. He was mayor of the City of Sydney and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Early life

Riley was born at Balmain to softgoods merchant Alban Joseph Riley and Juliana Lyons. He was educated privately at Maitland, and in 1859 was apprenticed to a draper. He established his own branches around 1868 at Bathurst and Maitland. On 4 October 1870 he married Eleanor Harriett Birkenhead.

Politics

Riley was a Burwood alderman in 1884. He served on Sydney City Council from 1885 to 1891 and was mayor in 1887. Also in 1887 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as a Free Trade member for South Sydney, but he was defeated in 1889. Appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1891, he was forced to leave it in 1893 when he was declared bankrupt.

Later life

Riley died at his home Tulloona, Park Road, Burwood on 24 July 1914. He was buried in Rookwood Cemetery on 26 July 1914.

Legacy

The Corn Exchange built in 1887 has his name and that he was mayor in 1887 over the corner door.