William Portus Cullen - Political Career

Political Career

Cullen entered politics in 1891 when he was elected a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Camden. He was defeated at the 1894 election, and in 1895 was nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council. Though not a strong party man, or even a politician by temperament, he was a useful member of the house who never spoke unless he could contribute something constructive to the debate. Cullen was a Federationist. In January 1910 he was appointed Chief Justice of New South Wales in succession to Sir Frederick Darley, and in March was appointed lieutenant-governor. Cullen found much business awaiting him at the Supreme Court, but his great capacity for work soon cleared up the arrears. His chief interest from his undergraduate days was the University of Sydney; he was elected a member of the university senate in 1896, vice-chancellor in 1908, and chancellor in 1914. During his early days in the Legislative Council he introduced a bill embodying important reforms in the conduct of the university, although some of these were not brought into effect until many years after. He was elected term after term as chancellor, and when he resigned on account of his health and his advanced age in December 1934, he had been in office for a longer period than any previous chancellor, during a time of great expansion.