Peter Heydon

Sir Peter Richard Heydon CBE (9 September 1913 – 15 May 1971) was an Australian public servant, policymaker, and diplomat. From 1961 to 1971 he was Secretary of the Department of Immigration.

Sir Peter Heydon CBE
Secretary of the Department of Immigration
In office 6 November 1961 – 15 May 1971
Personal details
Born	Peter Richard Heydon (1913-09-09)9 September 1913 Croydon, Sydney
Died	15 May 1971(1971-05-15) (aged 57) Canberra
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Muriel Naomi Slater ( m. 1942)
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Public servant

Life and career

Peter Heydon was born in Croydon, Sydney, on 9 September 1913.[1] He was educated at Fort Street Boys' High School, and in 1936 joined the Commonwealth Public Service in the Department of External Affairs,[1][2] soon after having been admitted to the NSW bar.[3]

In 1942, Heydon married Muriel Naomi Slater, a Canadian who had been his personal assistant during his appointment to the staff of Richard Casey in Washington.[1] In a eulogy after Heydon's death in 1971, Finlay Crisp described the couple's relationship as having "a tempo, a temper and a tone".[4]

From 1943 to 1944, Heydon served with the Australian legation to the Soviet Union which had just opened at the wartime capital of Kuibyshev.[1] Between May and September 1950, Heydon was chargé d'affaires in charge of the Australian Embassy in the Netherlands.[5] He was soon after appointed Minister to Brazil, serving until 1953.[6] Between 1953 and 1955, Heydon was High Commissioner to New Zealand.[7][8] He was subsequently appointed High Commissioner to India, serving in that position until 1958.[9]

From 1961 until his death in 1971, Heydon was Secretary of the Department of Immigration.[10] He died of a heart attack on 15 May 1971,[1] and was remembered by the prime minister, William McMahon, as one of the best-liked and respected public servants in Canberra.[11] He was survived by his wife, Lady Heydon, and three children – two daughters and a son, John Dyson Heydon, who was later made a judge of the High Court of Australia.[4]

Awards

Heydon was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1959 for service as High Commissioner to India.[12] He was made a Knight Bachelor in June 1970, for his service as Secretary of the Department of Immigration.[13]

References

1. Nethercote, J.R. (1996), "Heydon, Sir Peter Richard (1913–1971)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 1 March 2014
2. "New envoy". The Argus. Victoria. 4 February 1955. p. 10.
3. "For Big post in N.Z." The Advertiser. Adelaide, SA. 14 January 1953. p. 3.
4. "Obituary - Naomi Heydon: Gracious lady, sportswoman and linguist". The Canberra Times. 31 December 1995. p. 2.
5. CA 6917: Australian Embassy, The Netherlands [The Hague], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 28 January 2016
6. "New Minister Sails for Brazil". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 12 January 1951. p. 2.
7. "For NZ Post". Daily Examiner. Grafton, NSW. 18 February 1953. p. 1.
8. "New Zealand Rep. is Replaced". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Queensland. 15 January 1953. p. 4.
9. "High Commissioner to India". The Canberra Times. ACT. 4 February 1955. p. 2.
10. CA 51: Department of Immigration, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 6 July 2014
11. McMahon, William (16 May 1971). "Death of Sir Peter Heydon - Tribute by the Prime Minister" (Press release). Archived from the original on 5 July 2014.
12. "Search Australian Honours: HEYDON, Peter Richard", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 6 July 2014
13. "Search Australian Honours: HEYDON, Peter Richard", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 6 July 2014

Government offices
Preceded by Tasman Heyes	Secretary of the Department of Immigration 1961–1971	Succeeded by Bob Armstrong
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by John Quinn as Chargé d'affaires	Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands (as Chargé d'affaires) 1950	Succeeded by Alfred Stirling as Ambassador
Preceded by Torrence Doig as Chargé d'affaires	Australian Minister to Brazil 1951–1953	Succeeded by John Ryan as Chargé d'affaires
Preceded by Roden Cutler	Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand 1953–1955	Succeeded by John Augustine Collins
Preceded by Walter Crocker	Australian High Commissioner to India 1955–1958	Succeeded by Walter Crocker