Frank Perry (politician)


Sir Frank Tennyson Perry was an industrialist and politician in the State of South Australia.

History

Frank was born in Gawler, South Australia a son of Isaiah Perry and nephew of Samuel Perry, founder of Perry Engineering. He started working for his uncle in 1903, and was made manager of the newly acquired Gawler workshops of Martin & Co., in 1915; he became works manager of the Mile End factory around 1918, and on his uncle's death inherited, and greatly expanded the business, both at Mile End and Whyalla.
He was a founder of the Australian Metal Industries Association, and a member of the South Australian Chamber of Manufactures, and president of the Metal Trades Association. He was chairman of the Ammunition Industry Advisory Committee of the Department of Defence from 1952 to 1955, following on from his involvement with various Defence procurement boards during the War.
He married in 1911. By 1915 they were living at "Dawley" College Street, College Park. In 1924 he was elected Councillor, and in 1928 Alderman with the Corporate Town of St Peters, and served as mayor 1932–1933. He was elected to the seat of East Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly in 1933, and held the seat until 1938. By 1940 they were living at "Dawley", Burnside Road, Leabrook.
He was elected to a Central District No.2 seat in the Legislative Council in 1947 and held it until his death in 1965.
He was knighted in 1954.

Family

John Perry and Harriett Perry of Shropshire, England, had two sons who emigrated to South Australia: