Sir Laurence Whistler Street, AC, KCMG, KStJ, QC (3 July 1926 – 21 June 2018) was a prominent Australian jurist who served as the fourteenth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1974 until 1988 and as Lieutenant‑Governor of New South Wales from 1974 to 1989. He was born and educated in Sydney and combined a long legal career with public service and voluntary military duties.

Career highlights

  • Appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (1974–1988), presiding over criminal, civil and appellate business across the state.
  • Served as Lieutenant‑Governor of New South Wales (1974–1989), acting as the state’s vice‑regal deputy when required.
  • Held senior legal honours including QC and national and imperial orders (postnominals AC, KCMG, KStJ).
  • Maintained a long connection with the Royal Australian Navy Reserve, achieving the rank of Commodore.

Street’s tenure as chief justice coincided with a period of institutional change in Australian courts. His office combined judicial duties with court administration and ceremonial responsibilities. He is remembered for steering the work of the court through evolving procedural and social contexts, and for taking on viceregal duties as Lieutenant‑Governor.

Background and family

Laurence Street belonged to a distinguished legal family: both his father and grandfather served as Chief Justice of New South Wales, making the Street family one of the notable dynasties in Australian legal history. This multi‑generational connection to the bench attracted public interest and highlighted continuity in the state’s legal establishment.

Outside the courtroom, Street combined legal life with public and community service. He served in the Royal Australian Navy during and after the Second World War in a reservist capacity and later held leadership roles in professional and charitable organisations. His life reflected a blend of legal practice, public duty and civic involvement.

Legacy and death

Sir Laurence Street died on the night of 21 June 2018 in Sydney at the age of 91. Obituaries and remembrances emphasised his long service to the law, his role in court administration, and his place within a family that shaped New South Wales jurisprudence for much of the twentieth century. Further biographical and honours information can be found in official profiles and tributes (official biography and honours).

Notable facts:

  • He combined judicial office with ceremonial vice‑regal duties for over a decade.
  • Member of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve and later held the rank of Commodore.
  • Part of a three‑generation sequence of Chief Justices in New South Wales.