Herbert Cole ('Nugget') Coombs (1906–1997) was the governor of the Commonwealth (later Reserve) Bank of Australia from 1949 to 1968. Born in Kalamunda, he worked as a teacher while studying at the University of Western Australia. His success as Director of Rationing during the Second World War led to him being appointed Director-General of Postwar Reconstruction, in which role he developed plans for full employment and the alleviation of other social problems. Economic adviser to seven Australian prime ministers (Curtin, Chifley, Menzies, Holt, McMahon, Gorton and Whitlam), Coombs was central to the establishment of the Australian National University and was the first Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Affairs.
It is thought that this portrait bust may have come about during Norma Redpath's time as the HC Coombs Creative Fellow at ANU. Melbourne-born, Redpath studied at RMIT from 1949 to 1951 and thereafter emerged as one of Australia's foremost sculptors. Among her many major public commissions are the fountain in the courtyard of the Treasury building in Canberra (1965–1969), and Sculpture Column (1969–1972) for the Reserve Bank of Australia's Brisbane office.
Purchased 2018
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