16 Facts About Cyril Walsh

Sir Cyril Ambrose Walsh KBE was an Australian judge who served on the High Court of Australia from 1969 until his death in 1973.

Cyril Walsh grew up in the western suburb of Werrington, where his father owned a dairy farm.

Cyril Walsh was educated at St Joseph's Convent School and later at Parramatta High School in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta.

Cyril Walsh commenced studies at the University of Sydney in 1927, living at St John's College.

Cyril Walsh graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1930 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1934, both with honours.

Cyril Walsh won the University Medals in English, Philosophy and Law, and first-class honours in English, Philosophy and Latin, was awarded the James Coutts Scholarship for English and was the joint winner of the John George Dalley Prize.

On 28 November 1942, Cyril Walsh married his wife Mary at the St Joseph's Catholic Church in Burwood Heights, they would later have three sons together.

On 26 May 1934, Cyril Walsh was admitted to the New South Wales Bar, where he began to practise as a barrister.

Cyril Walsh's office was located in the Chalfont Chambers building in central Sydney, where his neighbours included future Chief Justice of Australia and High Court colleague Garfield Barwick.

Cyril Walsh argued many equity cases in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the 1940s and 1950s, and argued at least ten cases before the High Court in that time.

In January 1954, Cyril Walsh was made a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, an appointment which was widely accepted as well-deserved, although Cyril Walsh was relatively young at the age of 44.

On 3 May 1955, Cyril Walsh was appointed to the Council of St John's College as a Fellow, and was later deputy chairman of the council from 1969 to 1972.

In 1962, Cyril Walsh was selected by Barwick as Australia's representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East.

Cyril Walsh was appointed to the High Court on 3 October 1969.

Cyril Walsh was only on the High Court for a short period of time, but participated in several important cases including the Concrete Pipes case and the Payroll Tax case.

Cyril Walsh remained on the bench of the High Court until his death from multiple myeloma on 29 November 1973.