Family background
Richard Martin was born to parents Richard and Agnes Martin in 1893 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers of the British Army during World War 1 before moving to Sydney.
He married Martha Campbell and they had a daughter named Edith. They lived at 83 Redfern Street, Redfern. Martin worked as a publican at the Empress Hotel, which also operated from 83 Redfern Street. He died ‘suddenly’ at his residence on 21 January 1948 and was cremated the following day at Woronora Crematorium.
Occupation & interests
Richard Martin served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers of the British Army during World War 1, possibly as a Corporal in the 5/6th Battalion. He was a publican at the Empress Hotel at 83 Regent Street, Redfern from 1934 until his death in 1948. The pub was known to locals as the ‘Big E’. It was one of only a few Sydney pubs where Aboriginal people were permitted to drink from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Local government service
Richard Martin was elected an alderman of Redfern Council in 1945, serving until his death on 21 January 1948.
References
‘Family Notices’, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 January 1948, p. 14 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18058430
Gilchrist, Catie, ‘The Empress Hotel, Redfern’, Dictionary of Sydney, 2015, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/the_empress_hotel_redfern
Licences Transferred, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 May 1934, p. 5 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28025550
‘Advertising’, 24 January 1948, Sydney Morning Herald, p. 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27893438
The National Archives (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), WO 372/13/148962, British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Richard Martin, Regimental no. 487
‘Scotland 1901 Scotland Census, Parish: Edinburgh St Michael; ED: 131; Page: 9; Line: 20; Roll: CSSCT1901_369
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Richard Martin, Regimental no. 487
Electoral Rolls, 1934, Cook, Redfern, p 11