14 Facts About Arthur Rylah

Arthur Rylah was educated at Trinity Grammar and the University of Melbourne, where he entered residence at Trinity College in 1928 reading Arts.

On 10 September 1937 Arthur Rylah married Ann Flora Froude Flashman, a veterinarian, with whom he had two children.

Arthur Rylah would hold this seat without serious difficulty until he resigned in March 1971.

Accordingly, on 7 June 1955, Arthur Rylah was appointed Deputy Premier and Chief Secretary of Victoria, as well as Government Leader in the Legislative Assembly.

In something of a contrast to this dynamism, Arthur Rylah's attitudes regarding morality and censorship were seen by many to be reactionary and repressive.

Arthur Rylah zealously took on the role of public censor, banning everything from James Joyce's Ulysses to Rudyard Kipling's Barrack-Room Ballads.

Arthur Rylah was responsible for prohibiting performances of the play The Boys in the Band and for the covering of public statues of Michelangelo's David.

Arthur Rylah separated from his wife Ann in 1968, and on 15 March 1969 she was found dead in her garden.

In February 1971 Arthur Rylah announced that he would resign from parliament in the following month.

Arthur Rylah retired to his rural property, pursued his interest in horse-racing, and became a director of several companies.

Arthur Rylah died on 20 September 1974 in hospital in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, survived by his second wife, and by the children of his first marriage.

Arthur Rylah was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1965 New Year Honours list.

Arthur Rylah was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1968.

Arthur Rylah is commemorated in the name of the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research.