Geoffrey Street


Brigadier Geoffrey Austin Street, was an Australian politician who served as Minister of Defence at the outbreak of the Second World War and a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Division of Corangamite from 1934 until his death in the Canberra air disaster in 1940. He was recognised with a Military Cross for his courage while serving with the Australian Imperial Force during the Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War.

Early life and military service

Street was born in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra and educated at Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney. In 1914, he volunteered for military service with the Australian Imperial Force and was wounded in the Gallipoli landing and later served in France and Belgium. Street was discharged with the rank of Major in 1919 and was later made a Brigadier.
Street married Evora Francis Currie in 1918 and purchased part of his father-in-law's property in the Western District of Victoria and became a successful sheep grazier and local politician. He became a councillor of Hampden Shire Council in 1924 and its president in 1931–1932.

Political career

At the request of Robert Menzies, Street stood for and won Corangamite in 1934. He became Minister of Defence in November 1938 and played a major role in the expansion of the military and munitions production prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and pushed the National Registration Act through parliament despite strong opposition. Following the outbreak of war he worked to put Australia on a war footing. From November 1939, Menzies abolished the position of Minister for Defence and appointed Street Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation.
Street died in the Canberra air disaster, 1940, along with two other Cabinet ministers. His son, Tony Street, was Member for Corangamite from 1966 to 1983, and Foreign Minister in Malcolm Fraser's government.