Background
He was born in Sydney to merchant Thomas Burdekin and Mary Ann Bossley.
He was born in Sydney to merchant Thomas Burdekin and Mary Ann Bossley.
He was educated at Darlinghurst and graduated from the University of Sydney in 1859 with a Bachelor of Arts.
He became a solicitor"s clerk, but apparently did not become a solicitor, instead becoming a pastoralist in northern New South Wales and Queensland. In 1880 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Tamworth, but he was defeated in 1882 contesting South Sydney. Having moved to Sydney, he was elected to Sydney City Council in 1883.
He would serve on that council until 1898.
In 1884 he was returned to the Assembly via a by-election for East Sydney. A Free Trader, he also served as director of Sydney Hospital from 1878 to 1899.
Burdekin died at Rooty Hill in 1899.