Percival Albert Gourgaud (3 October 188130 August 1958) was a senior Australian public servant, best known for his time as head 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 ...

Life and career

Gourgaud was born on 3 October 1881 at Norton Diggings, near Gladstone, Queensland to parents Claudius Gourgaud and Mary Jane Gourgaud (née Barnes). Claudius had emigrated from France, and Mary Jane from England. He 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

in June 1929, his previous position had been chief clerk and assistant secretary in the Department. The

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

restricted public operations, and in 1932 the Works Department was amalgamated with Home Affairs and Transport to form the

Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the mana ...

, in which he was appointed Assistant Secretary. Gourgaud retired in 1946, and moved to a house in Moore Street, Turner. Gourgaud died on 30 August 1958 at Canberra Community Hospital, and was buried in Canberra cemetery.

Awards

Gourgaud was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1937, in recognition of his public service.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gourgaud, Percival 1881 births 1958 deaths Australian public servants Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire Australian people of French descent