Frank Purdue
Encyclopedia
Frank Outen Jensen Purdue (2 September 1899 – 24 December 1985) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1956 until 1962 and again between 1964 and 1965. He was prominent in local Government and was Lord Mayor of Newcastle, NSW for 9 years between 1951 and 1965. He was not aligned to a political party.
. He was the son of a building contractor and was educated to intermediate level at Armidale
high school . His initial employment was with the New South Wales Railway Department as a clerk. He was transferred to Newcastle in 1922 and resigned from the department in 1955. Purdue was a Methodist Lay Preacher, Rotarian and Freemason. He walked with a profound limp due to childhood polio.
from 1944 to 1974 and Lord Mayor in 1951, 1953–55 and 1959-65. during this period he played an active role in the development of the University of Newcastle, Australia
At the state election held on 3 March 1956 he stood as an independent candidate for the seat of Waratah. In a surprise result he defeated the endorsed ALP
candidate Harry Sheedy. This result was at least in part due to the recent split of the DLP
from the ALP. Purdue successfully defended the seat at the election of 21 March 1959 but lost the seat to Edward Greaves
the ALP candidate at the election of 3 March 1962. Greaves died in 1964 and Purdue was successful in his attempt to regain the seat at a by-election. He was defeated at the election of 1 May 1965 by ALP candidate Sam Jones.
He was made a CBE in 1966.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1956 until 1962 and again between 1964 and 1965. He was prominent in local Government and was Lord Mayor of Newcastle, NSW for 9 years between 1951 and 1965. He was not aligned to a political party.
Early life
Purdue was born in Murrumbeena, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He was the son of a building contractor and was educated to intermediate level at Armidale
Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
high school . His initial employment was with the New South Wales Railway Department as a clerk. He was transferred to Newcastle in 1922 and resigned from the department in 1955. Purdue was a Methodist Lay Preacher, Rotarian and Freemason. He walked with a profound limp due to childhood polio.
Political career
Purdue was an Alderman of the City of NewcastleCity of Newcastle
Newcastle City Council is a Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.-Demographics:According to the Australian Bureau Statistics the City of Newcastle had an estimated resident population of 154,777 as of 30 June 2008...
from 1944 to 1974 and Lord Mayor in 1951, 1953–55 and 1959-65. during this period he played an active role in the development of the University of Newcastle, Australia
University of Newcastle, Australia
The University of Newcastle is an Australian public university that was established in 1965. The University's main and largest campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales...
At the state election held on 3 March 1956 he stood as an independent candidate for the seat of Waratah. In a surprise result he defeated the endorsed ALP
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
candidate Harry Sheedy. This result was at least in part due to the recent split of the DLP
Democratic Labor Party (historical)
The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
from the ALP. Purdue successfully defended the seat at the election of 21 March 1959 but lost the seat to Edward Greaves
Edward Greaves
Edward Greaves was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1962 until 1963. He was a member of the ALP....
the ALP candidate at the election of 3 March 1962. Greaves died in 1964 and Purdue was successful in his attempt to regain the seat at a by-election. He was defeated at the election of 1 May 1965 by ALP candidate Sam Jones.
He was made a CBE in 1966.