Philip Whistler Street

Sir Philip Whistler Street KCMG (9 August 1863 – 11 September 1938) was the eighth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Street was a distinguished lawyer, patron of many benevolent institutions and also the lieutenant governor of New South Wales. Biographer Percival Serle states "Street had the culture, dignity and temperament suitable for his position. He had a wide knowledge of law and the ability to quickly reach the heart of the matter; however complicated a case might seem on the surface, the real issue involved soon became apparent to him. Though he had a keen sense of humour his court never lost its dignity and decorum, and though he would not allow himself to be fettered by mere technicalities, he insisted on the maintenance of the basic principles of law. His courtesy was universal and he never lost the affection and respect of the members of his profession".

Street was born in Sydney on 9 August 1863, the second son of John Rendell Street and Susanna Caroline Street (née Lawson). His father was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1887 and 1891 and his mother was the granddaughter of William Lawson, of “Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth” fame (explorers who found the first crossing across the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney). Street attended Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1883 and was admitted to the New South Wales bar on 25 August 1886. He married Belinda Maud Poolman at St John’s Anglican Church in Toorak, Melbourne on 1 February 1888. On 24 July 1906 he was appointed an acting judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He was later appointed a full judge of the Court on 11 February 1907 following the resignation of Mr Justice W. G. Walker in February of that year. Street principally presided in bankruptcy, divorce and probate cases. He was also deputy president of the now abolished Court of Arbitration which dealt with industrial disputes between employer and employee, as well as setting minimum wage standards in the State. Street also sat in the now abolished Vice-Admiralty Court, first established in New South Wales during the time of Governor Arthur Phillip to deal with maritime disputes.

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