Family background
Phillip Hurley Sullivan was born in 1858 in Sydney, the son of Daniel Santry Sullivan, master mariner, and Margaret Hurley.
In 1897 he married Helen Elizabeth Scougall with whom he had four daughters and three sons. In 1899 they were living at 82 Pitt Street, Redfern.
Sullivan died ‘somewhat suddenly at his home in Cliff Street, Manly’ on 4 December 1921 and was buried at South Head Cemetery, with Church of England rites.
Occupation & interests
Phillip Sullivan was a lawyer, articled to J W Johnson in 1877, R P Abbott in 1878 and to W B Craig in 1881, before being admitted as a solicitor in 1882. In 1887 he and his brother, D S Sullivan, established Sullivan Brothers in Hunter Street, Sydney, working together as partners until Phillip Sullivan’s death. Sullivan began as a police court and criminal advocate, later specialising in industrial and marine court matters. In 1900 he was made a justice of the peace.
Community activity
Phillip Sullivan was regarded as a ‘good all-round sportsman’, having been a prominent member of the Sydney Rowing Club in his earlier years. Later he took up sailing, becoming a member of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, sailing his own boat, Nereus, a 20 footer. He was also a member of the Australian Jockey Club and the Sydney Press Club.
Parliamentary service
Phillip Sullivan stood, and was elected, as the Australian Labor Party candidate for the seat of Darlington in July 1901. At the next election, in 1904, he stood for the newly created electorate of Phillip which embraced much of his old Darlington constituency. in 1905 he was appointed a trustee of the National Park. He also served on a number of Committees while an MLA. He stood again for election in 1907 but was defeated.
Local government service
Phillip Sullivan was elected as an alderman for the Redfern Ward, Redfern Council in February 1899, serving until 1901. In 1900 he was elected Returning Officer for that year’s municipal elections.
References
‘Advertising’, Daily Telegraph, 9 February 1899, p. 3, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236788152
‘Borough of Redfern’, NSW Government Gazette, 16 January 1900 (No. 39), p. 403, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221012054
Mr Phillip Hurley Sullivan (1858 – 1921), Parliament of New South Wales, https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/formermembers/Pages/former-member-details.aspx?pk=1035
‘Death of Mr P.H. Sullivan’, Daily Telegraph, 6 December 1921, p. 9, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/239705892