[1] In September 1851, prior to the establishment of responsible government, Richardson was elected to the seat of County of Stanley in the semi-elected Legislative Council.

On his return in September 1855 he won a by-election for the Council seat of Stanley Boroughs (including Brisbane and Ipswich) which, prior to the establishment of Queensland as a separate colony in 1859, was part of New South Wales.

After suffering great losses, in 1872, Richardson relocated to the Northern Tablelands town of Armidale and occupied a store purchased from John Moore.

The business continued serving as a modern department store for Armidale until it was downsized and relocated to the old Capital Cinema building at 203 Beardy Street (now Bing Lee) in November 1983 and traded there until its final sale in April 1992.

The original and now heritage listed department store on Beardy Street is now part of the Armidale Plaza shopping centre complex with major tenants in the former space now called Richardson's arcade being the long-standing women's fashion outlet Sportsgirl, menswear retailer Gazman and various other businesses.