26 Facts About Walter Massy-Greene

Sir Walter Massy-Greene KCMG was an Australian politician and businessman.

Walter Massy-Greene served as Minister for Trade and Customs, Defence, and Health, but his prime ministerial aspirations were brought to an abrupt halt by his defeat at the 1922 federal election.

Walter Massy-Greene Massy Greene was born on 6 November 1874 in Camberwell, Surrey, England.

Walter Massy-Greene was the second son of Julia and John Greene, a brewer and hotel proprietor.

Walter Massy-Greene's maternal grandfather was General Robert Turnbull Sandeman, and his uncle Sir Robert Groves Sandeman was a colonial administrator in India.

The family surname was Greene, but at some point Walter Massy-Greene chose to treat his middle name as an additional surname; he officially added a hyphen in March 1933.

Walter Massy-Greene was sent to Australia in 1891 for health reasons, and worked as a farm and sawmill labourer in northern Tasmania for a period.

Walter Massy-Greene was later joined by his family, who took up land near Kyneton, Victoria.

Walter Massy-Greene was elected to the newly created Terania Shire Council in 1906 and chosen as the inaugural shire president.

Walter Massy-Greene joined the newly created Federal Liberal League in 1909.

Walter Massy-Greene joined the parliamentary Liberal Party and soon became known for his attacks on the Fisher government's financial legislation.

Walter Massy-Greene retained his seat at the 1913 election, which saw the Liberals win a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.

Walter Massy-Greene was appointed as party whip by Prime Minister Joseph Cook, and subsequently played a key role in maintaining party discipline.

In 1917, following the Australian Labor Party split of 1916, the Liberal Party and the National Labor Party formed a coalition and Walter Massy-Greene became a member of the resultant Nationalist Party.

Walter Massy-Greene continued to represent Richmond until 1922 when he was defeated by a Country Party candidate.

Walter Massy-Greene was appointed as a Nationalist Party Senator for New South Wales in 1923 and served to the 1925 election, when he was elected to the Senate from July 1926.

Walter Massy-Greene remained in the Senate until his retirement in 1938.

Walter Massy-Greene was then promoted to be Minister for Trade and Customs.

Walter Massy-Greene then became Minister for Defence until 5 February 1923.

Walter Massy-Greene was relegated to the back bench during the Bruce Ministry.

Walter Massy-Greene resigned from the Australian Party on 26 December 1930 to rejoin the Nationalists.

Walter Massy-Greene subsequently joined the new United Australia Party in early 1931, along with Hughes and Duncan.

Walter Massy-Greene was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in June 1933, in recognition of his service as Assistant Treasurer.

In 1936, Walter Massy-Greene became chairman of Associated Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd.

Walter Massy-Greene was the chairman of the Emu Bay Railway Company and a director of the Electrolytic Zinc Company, Felt and Textiles of Australia Ltd.

Walter Massy-Greene married Lula May Lomax in Mungindi, New South Wales on 6 February 1915.