Herbert Pratten

Who was Herbert Pratten?

Herbert Edward Pratten was an Australian politician.

Pratten was born in Mangotsfield near Bristol, England the son of Herbert Graham Pratten, a baker and grocer and his wife Anne Rebecca Vowles, but made a fortune as a jam manufacturer in Western Sydney. He first became politically active as an alderman and later mayor of the Municipality of Ashfield.

He was elected to the Australian Senate in 1917 as a member of the Nationalist Party and transferred to the House of Representatives as the member for Parramatta in 1921. In 1922 he became the member for the neighbouring seat of Martin which he retained until his death of a cerebral haemorrhage while addressing a meeting at Turramurra, in 1928. He was the Minister for Trade and Customs from 1924 to 1928 and Minister for Health in 1924 and 1925.

His nephew Graham Pratten succeeded to the seat at a by-election.

Pratten Park, the original home ground of Western Suburbs DRLFC in Ashfield, was so named in his honour.