Herbert Charles Brown (public servant)
Herbert Charles Brown CBE (1874 – 1940) was a senior Australian public servant best known for his time as Commonwealth Auditor-General in the late 1930s.
Herbert Charles Brown CBE | |
---|---|
Secretary of the Department of Markets | |
In office August 1928 – 10 December 1928 | |
Secretary of the Department of Markets and Transport | |
In office 10 December 1928 – 21 April 1930 | |
Secretary of the Department of Transport | |
In office 1 May 1930 – 12 April 1932 | |
Secretary of the Department of the Interior | |
In office 12 April 1932 – 1935 | |
Commonwealth Auditor-General | |
In office 1935–1938 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1874 |
Died | 16 July 1940 (aged 67) |
Nationality | |
Occupation | Public servant |
Life and career
Brown was born in 1874, and joined the New South Wales public service in 1891.[1]
Brown served for 12-years in the Postmaster-General's Department, before joining the Department of Home Affairs. He then became an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Works and Railways, then a chief clerk and accountant in the Prime Minister's Department.[2]
In 1928, Brown was appointed Secretary of the Department of Markets.[3] He became Secretary of the expanded Department of Markets and Transport at the end of that year.[4]
Brown was Secretary of the Department of Transport between 1930 and 1932.[5] His salary was initially set at £1,100 per year, and his responsibilities included Commonwealth railways, assisted Migration from Britain, and lighthouses, light ships, beacons and buoys.[6]
When the Department of the Interior was created in 1932, amalgamating the Departments of Home Affairs, Transport and Works and Railways, Brown was appointed to be its head.[7] Having served as head of the Department of the Interior for over three years, Brown was appointed Commonwealth Auditor-General in November 1935.[7]
Brown died on 16 July 1940, aged 67.[8] His death was at home after a short illness.[9][10]
Awards
Brown was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1933 whilst Secretary of the Department of the Interior.[11]
References
- "Markets. New Secretary: Mr. H. C. Brown appointed". The Canberra Times. 25 July 1928. p. 4.
- "Federal Service Promotions". The Argus. Melbourne, Victoria. 4 November 1935. p. 8.
- CA 21: Department of Markets [I], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 21 February 2015
- "Round the Departments". The Canberra Times. 7 December 1929. p. 2.
- CA 26: Department of Transport [I], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 21 February 2015
- Order. Administrative Arrangements (PDF), Australian Government, 1 May 1930, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2014
- "Federal Service. New Appointments. London Official Secretaryship". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 November 1935. p. 10.
- "Mr. H. C. Brown". Daily Advertiser. Wagga Wagga, NSW. 19 July 1940. p. 5.
- "Obituary: Mr. H. C. Brown, C.B.E.- Former Commonwealth Auditor-General". Advocate. Burnie, Tasmania. 18 July 1940. p. 2.
- "Former Auditor General Dead". Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW. 17 July 1940. p. 1.
- "Search Australian Honours: BROWN, Herbert Charles, Award: The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 21 February 2015
Government offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Edward Joseph Mulvany |
Secretary of the Department of Markets 1928 |
Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Markets and Transport |
Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Markets |
Secretary of the Department of Markets and Transport 1928 – 1930 |
Succeeded by Edward Joseph Mulvany as Secretary of the Markets |
Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Transport | ||
Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Markets and Transport |
Secretary of the Department of Transport 1930 – 1932 |
Succeeded by Edward Joseph Mulvany as Secretary of the Department of Commerce |
Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of the Interior | ||
Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Transport |
Secretary of the Department of the Interior 1932 – 1935 |
Succeeded by Joseph Carrodus |
Preceded by Percy Deane as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs | ||
Preceded by Percival Gourgaud as Secretary of the Department of Works and Railways | ||
Preceded by Charles Cerutty |
Commonwealth Auditor-General 1935 – 1938 |
Succeeded by Ralph Abercrombie |