Frank Strahan

Frank Strahan CBE CVO (2 July 1886 – 4 May 1976) was a senior Australian public servant. Between 1935 and 1949, he was Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department.

Frank Strahan

CBE CVO
Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department
In office
11 November 1935 – 24 August 1949
Secretary of the Department of External Territories
In office
26 June 1941 – 10 May 1944
Personal details
Born(1886-07-02)2 July 1886
Fryerstown, Victoria
Died4 May 1976(1976-05-04) (aged 89)
Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
Spouse(s)Ella Mary Moore (m. 1914–1965; her death)
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

Strahan was born in Fryerstown, Victoria on 2 July 1886.[1]

In November 1935, Strahan was appointed Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department.[2] In the role, he became the first member of the Commonwealth Public Service to attend Cabinet when he attended a meeting of the Third Menzies Ministry in July 1941.[1]

In 1941 when the Department of External Territories was established (it was previously an office in the Prime Minister's Department), Strahan was named its Secretary.[3] Strahan served in dual roles at the head of the Territories Department and the Prime Minister's Department until 1944, when J.R. Halligan was appointed to head the Department of External Territories.[3]

Strahan retired in August 1949.[1] He died on 4 May 1976 in Camberwell, and his body was cremated.[1]

Awards

Whilst an Assistant Secretary at the Prime Minister's Department in June 1928, Strahan was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[4] In April 1935 he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.[5]

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References
  1. Powell, Graeme, "Strahan, Frank (1886–1976)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 21 January 2015
  2. CA 12: Prime Minister's Department, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 21 January 2015
  3. CA 42: Department of External Territories [I], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 21 January 2015
  4. "Search Australian Honours: STRAHAN, Frank, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 21 January 2015
  5. "Search Australian Honours:, STRAHAN, Frank, The Royal Victorian Order - Commander", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 21 January 2015
Government offices
Preceded by
John Henry Starling		 Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department
1935 – 1949		 Succeeded by
Allen Brown
New title
Department established
 Secretary of the Department of External Territories
1941 – 1944		 Succeeded by
James Reginald Halligan


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