Sir Walter Logie Forbes Murdoch

Description

Biographical informationSir Walter Logie Forbes Murdoch was born on 17 September 1874 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He spent part of his childhood in Scotland, England and France before emigrating with his family to Melbourne at the age of ten. Initially educated by his father, he later attended Camberwell Grammar School and Scotch College in Melbourne. Murdoch graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts in 1895 and a Master of Arts in 1897, achieving First Class Honours in Logic and Philosophy.

After teaching at schools in Camberwell and Warrnambool, Murdoch was appointed Assistant Lecturer in English at the University of Melbourne in 1903. He established an early reputation as a literary critic and essayist, publishing his first essay, 'The New School of Australian Poets', in 1899. From 1905 he wrote the weekly column 'Books and Men' for The Argus under the pen name Elzevir, and in 1911 joined the newspaper's literary staff after unsuccessfully applying for the Chair of English at the University of Melbourne.

Murdoch was appointed Foundation Professor of English at the University of Western Australia in 1913. He played a prominent role in the University's development, serving as Vice-Chancellor from 1916 to 1917, a member of the UWA Senate from 1917 to 1948, and Chancellor from 1943 to 1948. In recognition of his contribution to the University, he was awarded an honorary D.Litt. in 1948. His regular contributions to the 'Life and Letters' page of The West Australian, together with his radio broadcasts and public speaking engagements, attracted a large audience and helped strengthen connections between the University and the wider Western Australian community.

Murdoch was also active in public affairs. He served as president of the League of Nations Union of Western Australia from its establishment in the early 1920s until 1936, president of the Kindergarten Union of Western Australia from 1933 to 1936 and was a supporter of women's rights and educational opportunities.

Murdoch was appointed CMG in 1939 and knighted in 1964. He died at South Perth on 30 July 1970 and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery. The Murdoch Lecture Theatre at UWA Crawley Campus and Murdoch University are named in his honour. Honorifics (Titles)SirPost-nominalsKCMGCBEB.AM.AHon.DLittOther nameElzevirDate of birth17 September 1874Date of death30 July 1970

2260P - Professor Walter Murdoch sitting at his desk taken in South Perth in 1950

Employment

Job titleProfessor of EnglishEmployerThe University of Western AustraliaDate employed1913

Family

ParentReverend James MurdochHelen Murdoch, nee GardenSpouseViolet Catherine HughstonBarbara Marshall Cameron

Connections

Is referenced byPersonalities and places on Crawley CampusRelated collectionVice-ChancellorsUWA Foundation Professors

Item information

ContributorUniversity ArchivesSource of informationAustralian Dictionary of BiographyPope, Joan, Wendy Birman and Ronald Bodycoat, Personalities and Places on Crawley Campus (University of Western Australia Historical Society, 2013)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceRosehearty, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandDate17 September 1874

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceMelbourne (Vic.)

Significant place

RelationPlace of deathPlaceSouth Perth (Perth, W.A.)Date30 July 1970

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UWA Collected

Sir Walter Logie Forbes Murdoch

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA