Coombs, Herbert Cole

Coombs, Herbert Cole (1906-1997), Australian economist, one of the country's most distinguished civil servants. Born on June 24, 1906, at Kalamunda, Western Australia, Coombs (nicknamed "Nugget") studied at the University of Western Australia and then at the London School of Economics. In 1935 he joined the Commonwealth Bank as Assistant Economist; in 1942 he was appointed to the board, and in 1949 he became Governor of the Commonwealth Bank and later of the Reserve Bank as well. In 1939 he set up food rationing for World War II in Australia and from 1943 to 1949 was Director General of post-war reconstruction. When the Commonwealth Bank and the Reserve Bank separated in 1959, he remained Governor of the Reserve Bank until his retirement in 1968. In the course of his career, Coombs served as economic adviser to seven prime ministers: John Curtin, Joseph Benedict Chifley, Robert Gordon Menzies, Harold Holt, John Gorton, William McMahon, and Gough Whitlam. Coombs was also noted for his interest in the arts, Aborigine issues, and environmental concerns. As head of post-war reconstruction, he played a leading role in establishing the Australian National University and served as a member of its council and also its chancellor. Other appointments included Chairman of the Australian Council for the Arts and first Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Affairs. A strong advocate of Aborigine land rights, he was a promoter of the Aboriginal Treaty Committee in 1979. He wrote Aboriginal Autonomy (1994).