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John CurtinPrint Page
The statue commemorates the former Prime Minister of Australia and member for Fremantle, John Curtin.
John Curtin is widely considered to be one of Australia’s greatest ever Prime Ministers due to his inspiring national leadership during the Second World War. Curtin was born at Creswick, Victoria on 8 January 1885, the eldest son of Irish immigrants. He left school at 13 to help support his family and worked in a variety of jobs before moving to Western Australia in February 1917 as editor of the Westralian Worker.
He first entered the Commonwealth Parliament in 1928 as member for Fremantle. In 1935 he was elected Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labour Party. On 7 October 1941, two months before the attack on Pearl Harbour, he became Prime Minister of Australia. As wartime Prime Minister following the fall of Singapore and the bombing of numerous Australian towns, he guided the nation through the darkest hours of war. On 5 July 1945 John Curtin, the only Australian Prime Minister to represent Western Australian electorate, died in office six weeks before the end of the war.
Location
Address: | William & Adelaide Streets , Kings Square, Fremantle, 6160 |
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State: | WA |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.054099 Long: 115.747886 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Sculpture |
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Monument Theme: | People |
Sub-Theme: | Government - Federal |
Artist: | Joan Walsh-Smith & Charles Smith (Gidgegannup, WA) |
Dedication
Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 14th August, 2005 |
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John Curtin MP
1885 - 1945
Prime Minister of Australia
1941 - 1945
Member for Fremantle
1928 - 1931, 1934 - 1945
This statue was unveiled by the Premier of Western Australia Dr Geoff Gallop MLA on 14th August 2005
Sculpture by Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith
John Curtin is widely considered to be one of Australia’s greatest ever Prime Ministers due to his inspiring national leadership during the Second World War.
Curtin was born in Creswick, Victoria on 8 January 1885, the eldest son of Irish immigrants. He left school at 13 to help support his family and worked in a variety of jobs before moving to Western Australia in February 1917 as editor of the Westralian Worker.
Curtin married Elsie Needham and lived in Cottesloe with his wife and their two children.He first entered the Commonwealth Parliament in 1928 as member for Fremantle. In 1935 Curtin was elected Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labour Party.
On 7 October 1941, two months before the attack on Pearl Harbour, Curtin became Prime Minister of Australia. As wartime Prime Minister following the fall of Singapore and the bombing of numerous Australian towns, he guided the nation through the darkest hours of the war.
On 5 July 1945 John Curtin, the only Australian Prime Minister to represent a West Australian electorate, died in office six weeks before the end of the war. He is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.