Nigel Drury

Who was Nigel Drury?

Edward Nigel Drury, CBE was an Australian politician and grandson of Colonel E R Drury, pastoralist, business man, the first CEO of the Queensland National Bank and a member of the family well known in Brisbane at the end of the 19th century.

Nigel Drury was born in Clifton, Queensland and was educated at Brisbane Grammar School before becoming a corporate accountant. He served in the military 1942-1946, and was on the Queensland State Executive of the Liberal Party on his return. In 1949, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for the new seat of Ryan. In the same year, 1949, he married Valerie Thomas, daughter of the Naval Officer in Charge of Brisbane during the second world war, Captain E P Thomas.

During his parliamentary career he was chairman of the Commonwealth Immigration Planning Council, a deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, chairman of the Privileges Committee, and for many years deputy chairman of committees of the House. He held the seat of Ryan through 11 elections, until his retirement in 1975. Nigel Drury died in 1984 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.