13 Facts About Richard Orchard

Richard Beaumont Orchard CBE was an Australian businessman and politician.

Richard Orchard was a successful watchmaker and jeweller, with premises on George Street, Sydney.

Richard Orchard served in the House of Representatives from 1913 to 1919, representing the Division of Nepean, and was an honorary minister in the Fourth Hughes Ministry.

Richard Orchard spent four years as a travelling jewellery salesman in rural New South Wales.

Richard Orchard later became a watchmaker and established a jewellery store in George Street, Sydney in 1901, which became a public company in 1913 as R B Orchard Ltd.

Richard Orchard ran unsuccessfully for the Sydney Municipal Council in 1909 and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Hawkesbury in 1911.

Richard Orchard won the Australian House of Representatives seat of Nepean at the 1913 election for the Commonwealth Liberal Party.

Richard Orchard joined Billy Hughes' Nationalist government in 1917 and was appointed an Honorary Minister with responsibility for recruiting from March 1918 to January 1919.

Richard Orchard retired from politics at the November 1919 election.

Richard Orchard was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1920.

Richard Orchard ran unsuccessfully as a Nationalist for the seat of East Sydney at the 1925 election, and for the Senate in 1928 election.

Richard Orchard was a commissioner of the Australian Broadcasting Commission from its foundation in 1932 until 1939.

Richard Orchard died in the Sydney suburb of Darling Point survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.