Percival Gourgaud

Percival Gourgaud
Percival Gourgaud; OBE
Secretary of the Department of Works and Railways
	In office; 11 June 1929 – 12 April 1932
Personal details
Born	Percival Albert Gourgaud; 3 October 1881; Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
Died	30 August 1958 (aged 76); Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Public servant

Percival Albert Gourgaud OBE (3 October 1881 – 30 August 1958) was a senior Australian public servant, best known for his time as head of the Department of Works and Railways.

Life and career

Gourgaud was born on 3 October 1881 at Norton Diggings, near Gladstone, Queensland to parents Claudius Gourgaud and Mary Jane Gourgaud (née Barnes).[1] Claudius had emigrated from France, and Mary Jane from England.

He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Works and Railways in June 1929,[2] his previous position had been chief clerk and assistant secretary in the Department.[3]

The Great Depression restricted public operations, and in 1932 the Works Department was amalgamated with Home Affairs and Transport to form the Department of the Interior, in which he was appointed Assistant Secretary.[1]

Gourgaud retired in 1946,[1] and moved to a house in Moore Street, Turner.[4]

Gourgaud died on 30 August 1958 at Canberra Community Hospital, and was buried in Canberra cemetery.[1]

Awards

Gourgaud was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937, in recognition of his public service.[5]

gollark: Do you know anyone who would download a parliamentary permafrost?

gollark: What about humidity and amount of potatoes?

gollark: Do you graph *everything*?

gollark: Okay, given laws being stupid, probably in some way.

gollark: But I don't think disabling a feature would be illegal at all in any way?

References

McDonald, Jan, "Gourgaud, Percival Albert (1881–1958)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 3 April 2015
CA 14: Department of Works and Railways, (Central Office), National Archives of Australia, retrieved 5 April 2015
"Works Department: Probable New Secretary. Mr. P. A. Gourgaud Mentioned". News. Adelaide, South Australia. 21 March 1929. p. 1.
"Death of Mr. P A. Gourgaud". The Canberra Times. 1 September 1958. p. 2.
"Search Australian Honours: GOURGAUD, Percy Albert, The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, retrieved 5 April 2015

Government offices
Preceded by Henry Walters	Secretary of the Department of Works and Railways 1929 – 1932	Succeeded by Herbert Charles Brown as Secretary of the Department of the Interior

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[McDonald-1] McDonald, Jan, "Gourgaud, Percival Albert (1881–1958)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 3 April 2015

[NAA_CA_14-2] CA 14: Department of Works and Railways, (Central Office), National Archives of Australia, retrieved 5 April 2015

[3] "Works Department: Probable New Secretary. Mr. P. A. Gourgaud Mentioned". News. Adelaide, South Australia. 21 March 1929. p. 1.

[4] "Death of Mr. P A. Gourgaud". The Canberra Times. 1 September 1958. p. 2.

[5] "Search Australian Honours: GOURGAUD, Percy Albert, The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, retrieved 5 April 2015