Career within Commonwealth

Sir Allen Fairhall was born on 24 November 1909 in Morpeth, New South Wales. He was educated at the East Maitland Primary and Boys High Schools and later at the Newcastle Technical College. He was apprenticed as an electrical fitter at the Walsh Island Dockyard, Newcastle, becoming a qualified tradesman in the field. In 1930 Fairhall founded the broadcasting station 2KO Newcastle. It became the largest commercial station in the district and was operated by the Newcastle Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd. Fairhall was the Company’s Managing Director (until 1947) and also Managing Director of Messrs Wilken and Jones Ltd.

At the outbreak of World War II Fairhall unsuccessfully tried to enlist with the RAAF. Instead, he served as an Alderman on the Newcastle City Council (1941-44) and was Supervising Engineer in the Department of Munitions' Directorate of Radio and Signal Supplies (1942-45). In the latter position, he served in an honorary capacity and was in charge of NSW production of radio signals and radar equipment for the armed forces. He was also President of the Australian Commercial Broadcasting Federation (1943).

Fairhall unsuccessfully contested the seat of Newcastle at the 1946 election. Three years later he was elected as Liberal Member for Paterson (NSW) in the House of Representatives and held this seat for the next 20 years. In the Menzies Government, he was Minister for the Interior and Minister for Works (1956-58), Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Public Works (1959-61) and Minister for Supply (1961-66). In the subsequent Holt and Gorton Governments he was Minister for Defence (1966-69). Fairhall retired from federal Parliament on the eve of the 1969 elections, citing health reasons although he was also frustrated by differences with Prime Minister John Gorton over defence policy issues and had doubts about the future of the Government under him. Earlier in his career he was also a member of the Australian delegation to the 9th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (1954) and acted in other portfolios on several occasions.

After leaving federal politics, Sir Allen held various company directorships including with Clyde Industries Ltd, Ampol Petroleum Ltd, Ampol Exploration Ltd, Thiess Holdings Ltd, Newcastle Gas Company Ltd, CGA Fire and Accident Insurance Company and the Commonwealth General Insurance Company.

In 1970 Allen Fairhall's years of public service were recognised by his appointment as a Knight Commander in the Order of the British Empire (KBE). He also received several awards in the field of engineering.

Sir Allen died on 3 November 2006.

Publications

Allen Fairhall, Newcastle: symphony of a city, Cambridge Press, Broadmeadow, NSW, 2001

Allen Fairhall, Towards a new society, A. Fairhall, Newcastle, NSW, 1997

Sources

Canberra Times [obituary], 25 Nov 2006, p B9

Parliamentary Handbook 1965, p 90

Who's Who in Australia 1971, p 327; 1988, p 303; 2004, p 697

Parliament of Australia, <http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys>, accessed 15 November 2006

Summary heading

Sir Allen Fairhall

Unregistered links

1941-1944: Newcastle City Council - Alderman

1943: Australian Commercial Broadcasting Federation - President