Geoffrey Street
Brigadier Geoffrey Austin Street, MC, MP (21 January 1894 – 13 August 1940) was an Australian politician who served as Minister of Defence at the outbreak of the Second World War and a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Division of Corangamite from 1934 until his death in the Canberra air disaster in 1940. He was recognised with a Military Cross for his courage while serving with the Australian Imperial Force during the Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War.
Geoffrey Street | |
---|---|
Minister for the Army | |
In office 13 November 1939 – 13 August 1940 | |
Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
Preceded by | New title |
Succeeded by | Percy Spender |
Minister for Repatriation | |
In office 14 March 1940 – 13 August 1940 | |
Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
Preceded by | Eric Harrison |
Succeeded by | Philip McBride |
Minister for Defence | |
In office 7 November 1938 – 13 November 1939 | |
Prime Minister | Joseph Lyons Earle Page Robert Menzies |
Preceded by | Harold Thorby |
Succeeded by | Robert Menzies |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Corangamite | |
In office 15 September 1934 – 13 August 1940 | |
Preceded by | William Gibson |
Succeeded by | Allan McDonald |
Personal details | |
Born | Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia | 21 January 1894
Died | 13 August 1940 46) Canberra, ACT, Australia | (aged
Nationality | Australian |
Political party | United Australia Party |
Spouse(s) | Evora Francis Currie (m. 1918) |
Relations | Street family |
Children | Tony Street |
Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Branch/service | Australian Imperial Force |
Years of service | 1914–1919 |
Rank | Brigadier |
Battles/wars | First World War
|
Early life and military service
Street was born in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra and educated at Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney. In 1914, he volunteered for military service with the Australian Imperial Force and was wounded in the Gallipoli landing and later served in France and Belgium. Street was discharged with the rank of Major in 1919 and was later made a Brigadier.
Street married Evora Francis Currie in 1918 and purchased part of his father-in-law's property in the Western District of Victoria and became a successful sheep grazier and local politician. He became a councillor of Hampden Shire Council in 1924 and its president in 1931–1932.[1]
Political career
At the request of Robert Menzies, Street stood for and won Corangamite in 1934. He became Minister of Defence in November 1938 and played a major role in the expansion of the military and munitions production prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and pushed the National Registration Act (1939) through parliament despite strong opposition. Following the outbreak of war he worked to put Australia on a war footing. From November 1939, Menzies abolished the position of Minister for Defence and appointed Street Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation.
Street died in the Canberra air disaster, 1940, along with two other Cabinet ministers. His son, Tony Street, was Member for Corangamite from 1966 to 1983, and Foreign Minister in Malcolm Fraser's government.[1]
See also
References
- Hazlehurst, Cameron. "Street, Geoffrey Austin (1894–1940)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Harold Thorby |
Minister for Defence 1938–1939 |
Succeeded by Robert Menzies |
New title | Minister for the Army 1939–1940 |
Succeeded by Philip McBride |
Preceded by Eric Harrison |
Minister for Repatriation 1940 |
Succeeded by George McLeay |
Parliament of Australia | ||
Preceded by William Gibson |
Member for Corangamite 1934–1940 |
Succeeded by Allan McDonald |