Robert Richardson

Melbourne Rules - Challenge Cup Competition
DOB: 1847 Durham England
DOD: 1904 03 July, Melbourne Hospital
Original Carlton Football Club player
First Carlton Committee: 1864
Career: 1864 - 1869

R. "Bob" Richardson.
Played with South Yarra and Melbourne prior to Carlton.

George F. Bowen writing in 1892 mentions Robert Richardson being one of Carlton's early captains. Bowen said that in the early days the captain was elected prior to the match.

1866 July 21
Richardson was named in the Carlton side to play Melbourne on the Melbourne ground, Richmond Reserve.

1869 May 22
Played in the first game of 1869 season against Geelong at Royal Park on Queen's Birthday.
(The Carlton Story, H.Buggy and H.Bell p18)

1872 May 04
At the Carlton AGM at the Bowling Green Hotel in Lygon Street;
"The room presented quite an attractive appearance, being embellished with testimonials presented to veteran members, the club's old photos, the South Yarra Cup, won by the club, and a large photograph of the first twenty and office bearers, lately taken by Mr. Hewitt, of Swanston-street, and ornamented by Mr. R. Richardson.
(Australasian p12)
To see the photo of the first twenty, click 1871

1874 October 10
R. Richardson took part in the Carlton Sports Day.

1875 Richardson named in The Argus as playing in a Carlton 25 side against a Carlton First Twenty in a scratch match at Royal Park on Saturday 8th. May.

1894
Thomas Horan cricket reporter for The Australasian December 22 (p18) writing under the name of "Felix" about the Carlton Cricket Club;
"In my notice of the Carlton Club last week I forgot to mention the name of one of its founders, Mr. R. Richardson, known to all old Carltonians as "Bob" Richardson. He has the minute- book of the first meeting held for the purpose of forming the club, and he tells pleasantly how some of the material for the original pavilion was "smugged.
"Bob" used to do some beautiful ornamental penmanship in his old Carlton days, several illuminated addresses to old Carlton cricketers and footballers was done by him for pure love. Most of this work was performed by "Bob" on Sundays.
For many years "Bob" was hon. treasurer of the Carlton Club and a great enthusiast.

1903 March 07

BOB SEVERELY BASHED

Melbourne newspapers report a Robert Richardson aged 56 of Wimble Street Northcote, who was found by a police constable lying helpless in a court-way off Flinders Lane near the rear of Hosie's Hotel, at 10.30 pm Saturday.
He had been bashed by two men who knocked him down and kicked him. He was badly bruised and received a broken leg as a result of the fall.
He was taken to the Melbourne Hospital. (Rob of Ad)
(The Melbourne Hospital was on the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale Streets in 1904. It was extended in 1916 and called the Royal Melbourne Hospital.)

1904 July 03
Robert Richardson died at the Melbourne Hospital aged 56 (Age July 05 p1)
On page 10 the funeral notice;
All friends of the late Robert Richardson are respectively invited to follow his remains to the Northcote Cemetery. The funeral is appointed to leave the residence of his sister Mrs. Robert, 12 Wimble-street, Northcote, THIS DAY Tuesday 5th July, at 3 o'clock.

Northcote Cemetery, two possibilities;
R. Richardson. Rept 195, Row 4W, Location 6th allot. South of path 3.
Richardson. Rept see #215, Row 2W, Location 1st. allot south of Ladham

This concurs with the following November obit on Bob's old mate Tom Power in which Bob Richardson is mentioned, "who died some months ago.

TOM POWER'S DEATH

1904 November 26
"Another old identity passed away this week. In the palmy days of the Carlton Football Club there was no name better known in football circles than that of T. P. Power. He was a host in himself in furthering the interests of the Carlton club, and as hon. secretary for several seasons he was simply the personification of energy.
Those were the days of J. Donovan, O. T. L. O'Brien, T. Gorman, J. Gardiner, G. Kennedy, W. Dedman, Harry Guy, G. Coulthard, W. Monie, W. Goer, W. Newing, J. Clarke, G. Robertson and others, when the ringing shouts went up Saturday after Saturday, and season after season. "Forward Carlton," "Now then, Carlton.
I shall never forget the pride Tom Power used to take in connection with the preparation of illuminated addresses for presentation to players. R. Richardson who died some months ago, was a dab hand at ornamental penmanship, and many a Sunday he spent at Tom Power's request in producing really beautiful work, and the care bestowed on the ornamental work was only exceeded on the care bestowed on the composition of the address. The drafts were something to look at after all erasures, interlineations, and marginal corrections had been completed.
T. P. Power was a man of unbounded energy, and fine business capacity, and on the sport of football alone he published one of the most readable records ever printed in Victoria. Old Carltonians especially will read of his death with keen regret. He attained the age of 60 years.
(Australasian p20)