Introduction
Christopher Rolleston CMG, (27 July 1817 – 9 April 1888) was an English-born colonial public servant in Australia.
A prominent colonial civil servant in New South Wales has served as the register general (1855 – 1864). During his time as registrar general he was responsible for the launch of compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages.
He was born 27 July 1817 in Watnall, Notts., the second son of Rev. John Rolleston and Dorthy Burdette, and served in a range of previous roles including Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Darling Downs (1842 -1853), private secretary to the governor of New South Wales Sir William Denison (1855) as well as auditor-general (1864-1883).
His commercial appointments included director, European Assurance Society, the Mercantile Bank of Sydney and the Australian Gaslight Co, superannuation fund commissioner.
He served as the president and later a trustee of the Australian Club. For his lifelong service to colonial New South Wales he was appointed CMG in 1879.
Publications
- The Condition and Resources of New South Wales — A lecture delivered at Sydney, December 12, 1866. (1867)