Christopher Rolleston CMG (27 July 1817 – 9 April 1888) was an English-born colonial public servant in Australia.

Christopher Rolleston
Christopher Rolleston
Registrar-General of New South Wales
In office
1855–1864
Auditor-General of New South Wales
In office
1864–1883
Preceded byWilliam Mayne
Succeeded byEdward Rennie
Personal details
Born(1817-07-27)27 July 1817
Watnall, Nottinghamshire, England
Died9 April 1888(1888-04-09) (aged 70)
OccupationCivil servant

Rolleston was born 27 July 1817 in Watnall, Nottinghamshire, the second son of Rev. John Rolleston and Elizabeth, née Smelt.[1]

A prominent colonial civil servant in New South Wales, Rolleston served as the Register-General of New South Wales (1855 – 1864). During his time as registrar general he was responsible for the launch of compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages. He also served in a range of previous roles including Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Darling Downs (1842-1853), private secretary to the Governor of New South Wales, Sir William Denison (1855), as well as auditor-general (1864-1883).[1]

His commercial appointments included director, European Assurance Society, the Mercantile Bank of Sydney and the Australian Gas Light Company, and a superannuation fund commissioner.[1]

He served as the president and later a trustee of the Australian Club. For his lifelong service to colonial New South Wales he was appointed CMG in 1879.[1]

Legacy

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A number of places in Queensland are named after him:

Publications

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Cunneen, Chris (1976). "Rolleston, Christopher (1817–1888)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Rolleston – population centre in the Central Highlands Region (entry 28948)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Mount Rolleston – mountain in Toowoomba Region (entry 28953)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
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Political offices
Preceded by
William Mayne
Auditor-General of New South Wales
1864–1883
Succeeded by
Edward Rennie