Australian Pre-Decimal Banknotes

Lot 4145    Session 15 (7.30pm Thursday)    Australian Pre-Decimal Banknotes

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $300

A GROUP OF FORMAL INVITATIONS (ON CARDS) FROM 1922-1938, to Sir Ernest Riddle for various Government, State and other functions, includes Afternoon Party, Buckingham Palace (21.7.1922); Government House ball, Melbourne (1925); Government House luncheon, Sydney (including place card); Opening of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) (1932) (2); Government House, Sydney, dinner menu (24.11.1934); Government House, Sydney, dinner (2.11.1936); another (9.1.1937?); Coronation Commemoration Service, Sydney (12.5.1937); another (16.6.1937); Garden Party, Admiralty House, Sydney (14.10.1937); Forum Club, Woollahra (15.3.1937); Opening Mitchell Library Exhibition, Sydney (2.2.1938); University of Sydney (2.2.1938); 150th Anniversary Celebrations (Services Parade) (4.2.1938); another, (Venetian Carnival) (29.1.1938); another, Commemoration at Kurnell (18.1.1938); Civic Reception, Sydney (26.1.1938); State Government Dinner, Sydney (31.1.1938); Government House, reception (5.4.1938); Civic Reception, Sydney (12.3.1945) (Lady Riddle) and Garden Party, Government House, Sydney (20.11.1947) (Lady Riddle). Mostly very fine. (24)

Sir Ernest Cooper Riddle (1873-1939) was Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, then Australia's central bank, from 1927 to 1938.

He was born in Narrabri, New South Wales. In 1889, aged 16, he joined the Narrabri Branch of the Bank of Australasia as a clerk. In 1915 Riddle joined the Commonwealth Bank and was appointed Manager, Perth Branch, where he remained until he transferred to Sydney as Acting Manager. In 1924, he was promoted to Inspector and was transferred to manage the Melbourne Branch of the bank.

In 1925 Riddle was appointed Deputy Governor of the Commonwealth Bank and in 1927 became the bank's Governor, a position he held until his retirement. He was joint signatory on Australia's banknotes from 1927 to 1938. Riddle resigned from the Commonwealth Bank on 28 February 1938 due to ill health. He died one year later on 28 February 1939.