Alban Riley

Alban Joseph Riley (8 June 1844 – 24 July 1914) was an Australian politician. He was mayor of the City of Sydney and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Early life Riley was born at to softgoods merchant Alban Joseph Riley and Juliana Lyons. He was educated privately at , and in 1859 was apprenticed to a draper. He established his own branches around 1868 at and in 1874 at Maitland. On 4 October 1870 he married Eleanor Harriett Birkenhead, the second daughter of William and Hannah Birkenhead, at Sydney.

In 1878 Riley visited India, Palestine, Europe and England. He established an export drapery business, AJ Riley & Co, with branches in London, Paris and Sydney. His private residence was Tulloona, in Gloucester Avenue. In 1887 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Free Trade member for South Sydney, finishing at the head of the poll, but was defeated in 1889 with a swing to the Protectionists. Appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1891, he was forced to resign in 1893 when he was declared bankrupt. He was alleged to have continued trading and obtaining credit despite his bankruptcy. survived by Eleanor, five sons and five daughters.

Legacy The Corn Exchange built in 1887 has his name and that he was mayor in 1887 over the corner door.