Family background
Edward Raper was born in 1806 in Dublin, Ireland. In 1834 he married Jane Feeny (d.1881, aged 76) at Sydney and had two sons and five daughters. He died on 29 March 1882 at Darlinghurst, aged 76, and was buried in the Catholic section of Rookwood.
Occupation & interests
Edward Raper arrived in Australia about 1832. In 1844, he was established as a butcher on the corner of Castlereagh and Goulburn Streets in Sydney. He was a steward at the Petersham Races in December 1844. He bought freehold property in Sydney and by 1858 was at Prospect Street, Newtown, where Raper’s Paddock, Cattle yard and Dairy were well known. Raper Street in O’Connell Town at Newtown was named in his honour in 1878.
Parliamentary service
Raper was a member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Canterbury from 15 December 1860 to 10 November 1864.
Local government service
Edward Raper was Alderman for Denison Ward, 30 April 1857 to 22 November 1858.
References
City of Sydney Archives: NSCA CRS 51/4549, Demolition books, 1900-1949
Connolly, C N 1983, Biographical Register of the New South Wales Parliament 1856-1901, ANU
Parliament of New South Wales, Former Members, Mr Edward Raper
Society of Australian Genealogists. Rookwood index