S.L. Vale

Background

Richard Tayler Vale (1836-1916)

History

Richard Tayler Vale visited England in 1860-62 and after his return was a bookseller and newsagent in Smythesdale until 1869. On 7 October 1865 at Newtown near Scarsdale, he married Gertrude Campbell according to the rites of the Wesleyan Church. In 1869 he moved to Ballarat; some three years later he bought his brother's business which he carried on until about 1900.

He represented Ballarat West in 1886-89 and in 1892-1902 and was minister without office under (Sir) George Turner from September 1894 to August 1896, when he resigned from the government on issues arising from his membership of the sub-committee of cabinet inquiring into possible retrenchments. He was a vehement advocate of White Australia.

Strongly interested in mining, Vale held shares in most of the Sebastopol mines. He was on the council and for some years was vice-president of the Ballarat School of Mines. He took a course in Assaying and Metallurgy, and from May 1911 was librarian for the Geological Survey, Department of Mines and Forests, in Melbourne. He did much for Ballarat and was keen for it to be the centre of a network of railway extensions. HIn 1911 won a plebiscite conducted by the Ballarat Courier to determine the 'grand old man of Ballarat'. Vale died on 18 June 1916 and was buried in the Ballaarat New Cemetery.

Legacies

Vale Street, Sebastopol is named after The Honourable R. T. Vale, MP.

External Links

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/vale-richard-tayler-4949

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