The Sir Roland Wilson Foundation today celebrated the unveiling of Sir Roland Wilson Place within the Treasury courtyard in Canberra.

The courtyard, within the Treasury building in Parkes, has been named in honour of Sir Roland’s public service to the nation, in particular his 15 years as Treasury Secretary.

Sir Roland Wilson Foundation Chair, Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, spoke of Sir Roland’s life and legacy at the unveiling ceremony.

“Sir Roland Wilson was an eminent economist and one of most influential public servants of his generation,” Dr Parkinson said.

Sir Roland was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania, and was a student at Devonport High School before he won a scholarship to study economics at University of Tasmania. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1925 and he completed a doctorate in economics at University of Oxford and another at University of Chicago.

“Throughout his career Sir Roland held a number of significant roles, including as Commonwealth Statistician and as Secretary to the Department of Labour and National Service.

“Most notably, he was appointed Secretary to the Treasury in 1951 and served in this role for 15 years. To this day he remains the longest serving Treasury Secretary.

“More important than that, though, Wilson was the first to conceive the Treasury as a modern economic agency. He took the department from the “keepers of the books”, as important as that is, to a policy powerhouse. One that is still reflected in Treasury’s ethos today. For Treasury staff with us today, every time you are undertaking pro-active policy-development, anticipating challenges and opportunities, and developing and implementing strategies to respond, you are fulfilling Wilson’s vision for the department and the role it could play in building a better Australia.”

Sir Roland was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941; Knight Bachelor in 1955; and Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1965.

“So, it is only fitting that this courtyard in the Treasury building be named after Sir Roland – so that current and future generations of Treasury employees can learn of, and be inspired by, his legacy as they continue to offer frank and fearless, evidence-based advice to governments to advance Australia’s national interests,” Dr Parkinson said

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