Alfred Macartney Hemsley was born in Ealing, West London, in 1860.
In 1888, two years after being admitted as a solicitor, he set sail for New South Wales to join the legal firm of his older brother, Alexander. Tragically, Alexander died a few months after Alfred arrived. Alfred remained at the firm – which became known as Levy Hemsley & Perkins – until the death of David Levy in 1894, when Alfred joined Allen & Allen.
A tall man with great presence, Alfred Hemsley exuded warmth and was known for his kindness towards everyone he came in contact with, from the youngest office worker to the general manager of the Bank of New South Wales. An astute lawyer and businessperson, he made an indelible mark on the firm, inspiring colleagues both with his compassion and his exceptional skills as a lawyer.
Like George and Sir Wigram Allen before him, Hemsley was active in politics and business as well as the law.
He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, president of the New South Wales Law Institute, and a director of many Australian companies. One of his main clients was the Australian Gas Light Company, and it was remarked that what Hemsley didn't know about the Gas Acts had not yet been thought of. Many public companies are said to have considered it irresponsible to make major commercial decisions without first consulting Alfred Hemsley.
At sixty-eight, Hemsley was described by Smith's Weekly as 'perhaps the youngest old man in Sydney', counselling the who's who of the business community on important legal matters. He walked to work from Potts Point, despite having a gold travel pass he'd received upon his appointment to the Legislative Council. One of his passions outside the law was St Luke's Hospital in Darlinghurst, where he served as chairman of the board for over fifteen years. Hemsley House at St Luke's Hospital is named in his honour.
Upon Hemsley's death, former premier of New South Wales Sir Thomas Bavin described him as ‘the trusted adviser of hundreds – from the directors of great business enterprises and financial institutions, down to the humblest of individuals. No one ever went to him in this capacity without getting advice that was wise, sound, and honourable – advice in which his own interests counted for nothing, and the best interests of his clients counted for everything.'
The Allen Allen & Hemsley cricket team, victorious against Norton Smith & Co at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 19 October 1921. Back row: H Brigden, L Smith, H Palmer, A Hemsley, N Cowper. Centre row: R Buchanan, L Wallace, R Allen, J Dixon, H Vaughan. Front row: B Everett, G Walker, A Allen.