Sir Stanley Argyle (1867-1940), premier and doctor, was born in Kyneton, Victoria, and studied medicine at the University of Melbourne and at King’s College, London. Setting up as a general practitioner in Kew, in 1898 he founded the Willsmere Certificated Milk Co., of which he was a director until 1920. Mayor of Kew for two terms between 1903 and 1905, he began to specialize in X-ray work, and in 1908 he was appointed ‘medical electrician and skiagraphist’ at the Alfred Hospital. During World War I he served as skiagraphist in Cairo and as consultant radiologist to the AIF in France and England. In 1920 he won the seat of Toorak as an independent, and he served as chief secretary and minister of health from late 1924 to late 1929; during that period he was director of radiology at the Alfred Hospital. From 1930 to 1940, having given up his medical practice, he was leader of the Nationalist and then the United Australia Party (the former became the latter in 1931). As premier from 1932 he introduced emergency measures including below-award rates and work for the dole to bring Victorians out of the Depression; but a deal struck between the Labor and Country parties saw him lose the premiership in 1935. After his death his integrity was widely praised.
Tom Glover came from New Zealand to Sydney to work for the Bulletin and the Sun, becoming a leading caricaturist before dying in his Sun office at the age of 45.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2012
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
We depend on your support to keep creating our programs, exhibitions, publications and building the amazing portrait collection!
