Migrating from the United Kingdom, Thomas Richard Roydhouse arrived in New Zealand while still an infant. Working as a journalist, he joined the staff of the Melbourne Herald in 1888. He moved to Sydney in 1889, where he was employed as the editor of the Sunday Times (1893-1913) and later held the position of Sydney correspondent for the Melbourne Argus.
In addition to publishing a work of science fiction, The Coloured Conquest (1904), Roydhouse also wrote several non-fiction titles which include The Truth Chain: Spiritual Healing (1927). In particular he has been noted for co-writing (with H. J. Taperell) the political study, The Labour Party in New South Wales: A History of Its Formation and Legislative Career (1892).
