Kenneth Whistler Street KCMG QC (1890 - 1972)

Born 28 Jan 1890 in Woollahra, New South Wales (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Jessie Mary Grey (Lillingston) Street — married 10 Feb 1916 in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia

Died 15 Feb 1972 at age 82 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Kenneth Street KCMG QC is Notable.

Sir Kenneth Whistler Street KCMG KStJ QC was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales. These offices were held before him by his father, Sir Philip Whistler Street, and after by his son, Sir Laurence Whistler Street; the only such viceregal succession in Australian history. He served in the British Army during the First World War, being deployed to France in September 1914 with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

Formative years

Kenneth Street KCMG QC was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Kenneth Whistler Street was born on 28th January 1890 in Woollahra, New South Wales (Australia). He was the eldest of four sons (the third of whom died in infancy) of (later Sir) Philip Whistler Street and Belinda Poolman, later Lady Street. ^[1] The family soon after settled at Meadowbank, on the northern bank of the Parramatta River, to the west of Ryde. He was educated at Homebush Grammar School and Sydney Grammar School.

He attended Sydney Law School, University of Sydney, graduating with Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1911 and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1914. His younger brothers also studied law there.

The Great War

On 29th September 1914, bypassing the newly created Australian Imperial Force, Kenneth, while on holiday in England, enlisted in the British Army to serve in the (First World) War with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He subsequently deployed to France. An injury was deemed to prevent Kenneth from serving at the Front, so he opted to discharge. His younger brother, Lieutenant Laurence Whistler Street, a fellow Sydney Law School student, had enlisted before him and was killed in action just weeks into the Gallipoli campaign.

In December 1915, back home in Australia, Kenneth was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Commonwealth Military Force's (Militia) 18th (North Sydney) Infantry Regiment.

Kenneth married Jessie Mary Grey Lillingston on Thursday 10th February 1916 in St John the Evangelist Church of England (now Anglican Church), Darlinghurst, New South Wales. ^[2]Born in 1889 in India, Jessie had met Kenneth at the University of Sydney, where she gained a BA in 1911; the pair had both played hockey, and belonged to the university’s dramatic society. The Sun published an excellent report of the wedding the following day, part of which is reproduced here: ^[3]

"Yesterday afternoon, at St John's Church, Darlinghurst, Miss Jessie Lillingstone, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Lillingstone, of Yulgilbar, Clarence River, Grafton, was married to Mr Kenneth Street, eldest son of Mr Justice Street, and a First Lieutenant in the German concentration camp. The bride's uncle, Mr William Oglivie, of Il Paran, Glen Innes, gave her away ..."

The couple subsequently had four children:

1. Belinda Jessie Whistler (1918-); ^[4] married Donald MacKay in 1939 ^[5]
2. Philippa Lillingston (1919-); ^[6] married Australian Test cricketer John 'Jack' Fingleton in 1942 ^[7]
3. Roger Kenneth Whistler (1921-); ^[8] married Florence Taubman in 1945 ^[9]
4. Sir Laurence Whistler (1926-2018); married Susan Watt in 1952 ^[10]

Kenneth was promoted to Captain in September 1917 and posted to the Adjutant General's Department, Army Headquarters, Melbourne.

Judiciary career

Between 1921 and 1927, Kenneth lectured part time at Sydney Law School, continuing his Militia career as a legal staff officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Street enjoyed a wide general practice and would have taken silk but for his appointment to serve on the reconstituted Industrial Commission of New South Wales from December 1927. He was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on 7th October 1931; thus joining the bench of which his father was then Chief Justice, the first and only such case in Australian history. From 1949, as senior puisne judge, Kenneth acted as Chief Justice. He was confirmed in that office on 6th January 1950 and sworn in on 7th February, so becoming the second of three consecutive generations of the Street family to serve as Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales. He was appointed King's Counsel (becoming Queen's Counsel upon Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953).

Although Kenneth had few interests beyond the law, he found recreation in gardening and cabinet-making, belonged to the Union and Royal Sydney Golf clubs, and supported organisations such as the Boy Scouts' Association and St John Ambulance Association (President 1950-60).

He retired from the bench on his 70th birthday, 28th January 1960, as had his father.

Honours

Kenneth was appointed Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ) in 1951 and, in 1956, created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG).

In 1952, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Sydney.

Street House at Cranbrook School, Sydney is named in his honour.

Court is closed

Aged 82 years and having been widowed for almost two years, Sir Kenneth passed away on 15th February 1972 in Sydney. ^[11] He was granted a state funeral in St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney and is buried in South Head Cemetery, Vaucluse. He was survived by his four children and their families.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #38211/1890
2. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #452/1916
3. ↑ Wedding Report: The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954) Fri 11 Feb 1916, Page 8 ; accessed 29 Aug 2023
4. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #6842/1918
5. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #22371/1939
6. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #37094/1919
7. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #7984/1942
8. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #48570/1921
9. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #12468/1945
10. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #9912/1952
11. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #42157/1972; registered at St Leonards

See also

• Bennett, J M. 'Street, Sir Kenneth Whistler (1890–1972)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2002; accessed online 29 Aug 2023.
• Wikipedia: Kenneth Street; accessed 29 Aug 2023.
• Karen Fox, 'Australian Legal Dynasties: The Stephens and the Streets', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, originally published 17 February 2015, accessed 4 September 2023.