The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Dibbs, Sir George Richard
Dibbs, Sir George Richard, K.C.M.G., M.L.A., Premier of New South Wales, is the son of the late Captain John Dibbs of the East India Company's service, and has represented the Murrumbidgee in the Legislative Assembly for some years past. He was Colonial Treasurer in the Ministry of the late Sir Alexander Stuart from Jan. 1883 to Oct. 1885, when he succeeded that gentleman, and was Premier till December following. From Feb. 1886 to Jan. 1887 he was Colonial Secretary in the Jennings Ministry, and formed another short-lived Administration in Jan. 1889, in which he was Premier and Colonial Secretary until March in the same year. Mr. Dibbs is a strong Protectionist. He was appointed one of the representatives of New South Wales to the Federation Convention held in Sydney in March 1891, although considerable objection was made to his appointment by Sir Henry Parkes, on the ground that he had expressed himself opposed to Federation under the Crown. In Oct. 1891, on the defeat of the Parkes Ministry, Mr. Dibbs once more became Premier of the colony, and succeeded in carrying a Protectionist tariff. In June 1892 he visited England on an important financial mission, in which he appeared as the representative not only of New South Wales, but of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. He was created K.C.M.G. in July.