Colonel David Miller (1857 – 1934) was a senior Australian Commonwealth Public Servant, appointed in the year of

Federation A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...

to head the

Department of Home Affairs An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

Life and career

David Miller was born in Glebe, Sydney on 27 March 1857. He joined the NSW Public Service in 1875. His military career started ten years later when he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the New South Wales Militia. In 1901, Miller was appointed

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

of the

. He was made Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory in 1912, occupying dual positions, and transferring to

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

. His residency was the first permanent building in Canberra and he was responsible for conducting an international design competition for establishing the national capital. Miller was not a fan of the

Walter Burley Griffin Walter Burley Griffin (November 24, 1876February 11, 1937) was an American architect and landscape architect. He is known for designing Canberra, Australia's capital city and the New South Wales towns of Griffith, New South Wales, Griffith and ...

design selected for Canberra, believing it to be too expensive to be realised. Miller retired officially from Canberra in his final position as Secretary of the

Department of Works and Railways The Department of Works and Railways was an Australian government department that existed between November 1916 and April 1932. At its abolition, its functions were absorbed into the Department of the Interior. Scope Information abou ...

in August 1917. He died on 27 November 1934 at Glen Innes.

Awards

Miller was awarded an Imperial Service Order in February 1904, as Secretary of the Home Affairs Department. In June 1913 he was appointed a Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George. In 2009, a street in the

suburb of Casey was named David Miller Crescent in Miller's honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, David 1857 births 1934 deaths Australian public servants Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Australian Companions of the Imperial Service Order