People Australia

William Sheahan, Fairfax Corporation, c.1930

National Library of Australia, 52569355

William Francis (Bill) Sheahan (1895-1975) barrister and parliamentarian

Birth:  3 September 1895 at Tumut, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Jeremiah Francis Sheahan (1850-1896) and Mary Ann, née Downing (1852-1939, who were publicans at Jugiong. Marriage: 10 September 1932 at the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, to Ellen Imelda Byrne (1911-2005), born at Balmain, Sydney. They had one son and three daughters. Death: 27 December 1975 at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney; usual residence Kameruka Road, Northbridge. Religion: Catholic. 

• Educated at Jugiong Public School, Tumut Convent School, St Patrick’s College, Goulburn, and the University of Sydney (LLB 1930).
• Served as a private in the Australian Imperial Force from 1916 to 1919, in the 17th Battalion and 5th Infantry Board Headquarters, in France and Flanders.
• He was a clerk in Crown Law Department in 1914-1930; called to the Bar in 1930. Established a large practice in criminal jurisdiction; appointed QC 1953.
• Joined the Australian Labor Party in 1911. Delegate to federal conference in 1939; vice-president of the federal executive in 1939.
• Contested State seat of Petersham in 1935 and 1938. He was member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seat of Yass from 1941 to 1950 and of Burrinjuck from 1950 until he retired in 1973.
• Sheahan was Minister for Lands 1947-1950; minister for transport 1950-1953; attorney-general 1953-1956 and minister for health 1956-1965. He was NSW representative to the Empire Law conference in 1953 and the Law Convention, Canada, in 1960.
• He was also honorary MD, University of NSW; chairman, Sydney Cricket Ground; member, Tattersall’s Club.
• Cause of death: metastatic carcinoma of liver (4 months), and intestinal carcinoma.
• He was the cousin of Francis George Downing, Robert Reginald Downing and Thomas Chrysostom O’Mara, MLA Tumut 1882-85 and Monaro 1887-89. 

Sources
Heather Radi, Peter Spearritt and Elizabeth Hinton(eds), Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979); Labor Year Book, 1973.