Samuel Walder

Sir Samuel Robert Walder (8 October 1879 – 24 November 1946) was an Australian businessman and politician. He was a long-serving member of the Sydney City Council, including as Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1932, and was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1932 to 1943.

Early life and business career Samuel Robert Walder was born in Sydney on 8 October 1879, the son of Mary Ann (Hatton) and Samuel Walder, a sail-maker. After being educated at Cleveland Street Public School and Christ Church St Laurence Parish School, he left school at age 13 and entered his father's sail, tent and tarpaulin manufacturing business as an apprentice. When his father died, the 18-year-old Walder took over as manager. He expanded the business and floated it as a Limited company, S. Walder Ltd, in 1911. On 22 March 1911 he married Elsie Helena Blunt, a milliner, at St Martin's Anglican Church, Kensington. They had two children together, Mollie and Samuel; Mollie married the English cricketer John Human.

During the First World War, Walder's company obtained a government contract to supply tents to the Australian Army. With the success of his company, Walder expanded his business activities, becoming a director of the local board of Eagle Star and British Dominions Fire Insurance Company, Lowe Brothers, Monsoon Waterproofing Company and as the chairman of directors of Sargents Limited. In 1924 he retired as managing director of S. Walder Ltd, which remained a family company. Taking office in 1932, Walder led the council during the worst year of the Great Depression and chaired the Citizens' Employment Committee, which assisted citizens in obtaining employment.

The opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on 19 March 1932, Premier Lang cuts the ribbon with Walder (right, in robes) looking on.

During World War II, Walder chaired Sydney City Council's National Emergency Services committee, advocating the construction of underground air-raid shelters and other measures preparing for possible attack. As a vice-president of the liberal conservative National Association of New South Wales in 1930 and a member of the committee that negotiated the creation of the United Australia Party, of which he was a vice-president in 1933–1939, Walder sat for the UAP in the Legislative Council until his defeat in April 1943. Survived by his wife, son and daughter, he died of cancer on 24 November 1946 at Woollahra and was buried in Waverley Cemetery.