Biography for TOWNLEY, the Hon. Athol GordonMember for Denison (Tas)
Liberal Party of Australia
Parliamentary Service
Elected to the House of Representatives for Denison, Tasmania, 1949. Re-elected 1951, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1961 and 1963. Died in Office, 24.12.1963.
Acting Ministries
Acting Minister for Health from 13.8.1953 to 16.9.1953.
Acting Minister for Air from February to April 1957.
Acting Minister for Health from April to June 1957.
Acting Minister for Civil Aviation from 14.1.1958 to 18.2.1958.
Acting Minister for Trade from 23.8.1958 to 6.10.1958.
Acting Minister for Trade from 2.4.1959 to 21.4.1959.
Acting Minister for Civil Aviation from 12.2.1960 to 26.2.1960.
Acting Minister for Civil Aviation from 18.12.1960 to 23.12.1960.
Acting Minister for the Navy from 12.2.1963 to 19.3.1963.
Ministerial Appointments
Cabinet Minister from 11.5.1951 to 18.12.1963.
Minister for Social Services from 11.5.1951 to 9.7.1954.
Minister for Air from 9.7.1954 to 24.10.1956.
Minister for Civil Aviation from 9.7.1954 to 24.10.1956.
Minister for Immigration from 24.10.1956 to 19.3.1958.
Minister for Defence Production from 11.2.1958 to 23.4.1958.
Minister for Supply from 11.2.1958 to 10.12.1958.
Minister for Defence from 10.12.1958 to 18.12.1963.
Conferences, Delegations and Visits
Visited the United States of America and the United kingdom to discuss joint defence problems.
Visited the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada and the United States, January-March 1955.
Represented the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia at the Inauguration of the Parliament of the Federation of the West Indies on 20.04.1958.
Discussed joint defence problems in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, May-June 1961.
Discussed joint defence problems at Singapore, with the United Kingdom and New Zealand Ministers for Defence, March 1962.
Visited Indonesia, June 1962.
Visited the United States, for discussions in Washington on replacements of bomber aircraft for the RAAF, October 1963.
Other Positions
Appointed as Australian Ambassador to the United States from 17.12.1963.
Personal
Born: 3.10.1907, Hobart, Australia
Died: 24.12.1963
Gender: Male
Military Service
Served in England and the South-West Pacific Area.
Enlisted in Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve as Sub-Lieutenant from 23.09.1940 to 25.06.1945, discharged.
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 1941.
Acting Lieutenant-Commander, 1943.
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, 1948.
Enlisted in Royal Australian Naval Reserve, with rank of Lieutenant-Commander, 01.01.1950.
Promoted to the rank of Commander, 03.10.1955.