15 Facts About Harold Thorby

Harold Victor Campbell Thorby was an Australian politician.

Harold Thorby was a member of the Country Party and served as the party's deputy leader from 1937 to 1940.

Harold Thorby represented the Division of Calare and held ministerial office as Minister for War Service Homes, Defence, Civil Aviation, Health, and Postmaster-General.

Harold Thorby lost his seat at the 1940 federal election.

Harold Thorby was the son of Elizabeth and Frederick James Thorby; his mother was Irish and his father English.

Harold Thorby later acquired his own property in Geurie and studied woolclassing, veterinary science and architecture through Sydney Technical College.

Harold Thorby worked as a construction foreman for his father, whose firm had projects in Sydney and Newcastle.

Harold Thorby was a member of the three-member electoral district of Wammerawa in the NSW Legislative Assembly from 1922 to 1927 for the Country Party.

Harold Thorby was the Minister for Agriculture and chairman of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission in the government of Thomas Bavin from 1927 to 1930, during which construction of the Wyangala Dam commenced, the Burrinjuck Dam was finished and the Hawkesbury Agricultural College was enlarged.

At the 1931 general election, Harold Thorby won the federal seat of Calare, which he held until 1940.

Harold Thorby was a Minister without Portfolio from November 1934 to November 1937 in the Lyons government, entitled Assistant Minister for Repatriation, Minister for War Service Homes and Assistant Minister for Commerce.

In November 1937, Harold Thorby was elected deputy leader of the Country Party, defeating John McEwen by a single vote on the second ballot.

Harold Thorby subsequently served as Minister for Defence from November 1937 to November 1938 and Minister for Works and Minister for Civil Aviation from November 1938.

Harold Thorby returned to farming on his wife's parents property at Wongarbon and remained active in the Graziers' Association and the Country Party.

Harold Thorby died at his home in the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga, survived by two daughters from his first marriage.