Project Background

Title: John Curtin Memorial

Competition Winner: yes

Location: Kings Square, cnr Adelaide St & near William St, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia

Client: The West Australian Government

Date Completed: 2005

Project Materials: Bronze, Granite

Project size: Over-life-size

Dedication: 14 August 2005, by Premier of Western Australia, Geoff Gallop.

Description:

Commemorates the Prime Minister of Australia and member for Fremantle.

John Curtin is widely considered to be one of Australia’s greatest ever Prime Ministers due to his inspiring national leadership during the Second World War. Curtin was born at Creswick, Victoria on 8 January 1885, the eldest son of Irish immigrants. He left school at 13 to help support his family and worked in a variety of jobs before moving to Western Australia in February 1917 as editor of the Westralian Worker.

He first entered the Commonwealth Parliament in 1928 as member for Fremantle. In 1935 he was elected Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labour Party. On 7 October 1941, two months before the attack on Pearl Harbour, he became Prime Minister of Australia. As wartime Prime Minister following the fall of Singapore and the bombing of numerous Australian towns, he guided the nation through the darkest hours of war. On 5 July 1945 John Curtin, the only Australian Prime Minister to represent Western Australian electorate, died in office six weeks before the end of the war

The Granite Base

Front Inscription:

JOHN CURTIN MP 1885-1945

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA 1941-1945

MEMBER FOR FREMANTLE 1928-1931, 1934-1945

Left Side Inscription:

This statue was unveiled by The Premier of Western Australia Dr Geoff Gallop MLA On 14th August 2005/  Sculpture by Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith.

Right Side Inscription:

John Curtin is widely considered to be one of Australia’s greatest ever Prime Ministers due to his inspiring national leadership during the Second World War. Curtin was born in Creswick, Victoria on 8 January 1885, the eldest son of Irish immigrants. He left school at 13 to help support his family and worked in a variety of jobs before moving to Western Australia in February 1917 as editor of the Westralian Worker. Curtin married Elsie Needham and lived in Cottesloe with his wife and their two children.

He first entered the Commonwealth Parliament in 1928 as member for Fremantle. In 1935 Curtin was elected Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Labour Party. On 7 October 1941, two months before the attack on Pearl Harbour, Curtin became Prime Minister of Australia. As wartime Prime Minister following the fall of Singapore and the bombing of numerous Australian towns, he guided the nation through the darkest hours of the war.

On 5 July 1945 John Curtin, the only Australian Prime Minister to represent a West Australian electorate, died in office six weeks before the end of the war. He is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.