George Edward Rich was born in 1863 in Sydney, New South Wales, into a society where the legal profession was gaining increasing authority in public life. He attended Sydney Grammar School and later studied at the University of Sydney, where he excelled in classics and law. After graduating with high honours, he was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1887. From the outset of his career, Rich was known for his quiet but penetrating intellect and for a style of advocacy that was deliberate, exacting, and free of unnecessary flourish.

He built a strong practice in equity and constitutional matters, often appearing in complex cases involving trusts, commercial disputes, and questions of federal jurisdiction. Rich was not a flamboyant advocate, but judges and clients valued his meticulous preparation and the precision of his written arguments. He earned the respect of his peers through a combination of scholarly acumen and understated courtroom effectiveness.

Beyond the courtroom, Rich was active in legal education and served as a lecturer in law at the University of Sydney. He was deeply committed to the advancement of legal knowledge and was known for encouraging younger barristers with both kindness and rigour. His work helped shape the intellectual environment of the Sydney Bar during a period of national transition and legal development.

In 1913 Rich was appointed to the High Court of Australia by Prime Minister Joseph Cook. His appointment was not widely anticipated, yet he proved to be one of the most durable and thoughtful members of the bench. He served on the High Court for thirty-four years, one of the longest tenures in its history. His judgments were characterised by careful reasoning and a reluctance to extend judicial power beyond constitutional bounds. He often wrote in support of preserving the balance between Commonwealth and State authority.

Although he rarely sought public attention, Rich’s influence on the development of Australian constitutional law was profound. He retired in 1950 and died six years later at the age of ninety-three. His life and work reflected a deep belief in the stabilising force of law and the quiet power of sustained intellectual integrity within public service.