Vale His Honour Fred Davey QC

Fred Davey was called to the Bar soon after being admitted to practise law in 1962 and read with the late Charles Francis AM RFD QC. He established a broad practice, but later specialised in commercial law.

Concurrently with his practice at the Bar, Fred achieved a Bachelor of Commerce degree and qualified as an Associate of the Australian Society of Accountants in 1966. He re-signed the Bar Roll in 1974, after a three year break to work as in-house counsel on a joint venture.

Generous with his time for new members of the Bar, Mr Davey mentored the Honourable Susan Crennan AC QC, Her Honour Judge Meryl Sexton, John de Wijn AM QC, Stephen Wartski and Sean McLaughlin. He took silk in 1992.

Mr Davey served on several committees, including the Legal Resources Committee, in which he advocated for expanding, modernising and relocating the library.

Mr Davey was appointed a judge of the County Court in 2002. He retired in 2009.

A key sportsman throughout his life, Mr Davey played a number of sports, including Rugby Union for the State Rugby Union team (1960-1961), the eminent Bar All Stars XV (1989) and in the Northern Territory, when he travelled for an appearance at the Federal Court.

The Bar offers our condolences to Mr Davey’s friends and family.