Denham Henty
Politician and wholesaler, Senator for Tasmania, Australia
About Denham Henty
Lived 1903 – 1978 (aged 74). Denham Henty was an Australian politician and wholesaler.
Sir Norman Henry Denham Henty, KBE (13 October 1903 – 9 May 1978) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1950 to 1968. He held ministerial office as Minister for Customs and Excise (1956–1964), Civil Aviation (1964–1966), and Supply (1966–1968). He also served as mayor of Launceston from 1948 to 1949.
Early life Henty was born in Longford, Tasmania, the second child of Thomas Norman Henty and Sarah Nina Lily Mary, née Wilson. His grandfather was Thomas Henty, part of the pioneering Henty family. He was educated at Launceston Church Grammar School. He left school at fourteen to work in his father's wholesale business. In March 1930 he married Faith Gordon Spotswood and they subsequently had three sons and a daughter. He served as an alderman on Launceston City Council from 1943 to 1951 and was mayor from 1948 to 1949.
Politics Henty was elected to the Senate of Australia at the 1949 election, representing the Liberal Party and served until his retirement in June 1968. He served as Minister for Customs and Excise from October 1956 to June 1964. In 1960 he prohibited the export of Australian native fauna for commercial purposes. The Denham Henty Waterscape in Launceston's Civic Square is named in his honour.
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Important facts
People in Denham Henty's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Denham Henty's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Denham Henty?
politician and wholesaler, Senator for Tasmania, Australia (1903–1978)
When was Denham Henty born?
Denham Henty was born on 13 October 1903 in Longford.
When did Denham Henty die?
Denham Henty died on 9 May 1978 in Launceston.
What was Denham Henty's occupation?
Denham Henty was a politician and wholesaler.
What nationality was Denham Henty?
Denham Henty was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Denham Henty. https://biography.guide/denham-henty/
MLA: "Denham Henty." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/denham-henty/.
Chicago: "Denham Henty." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/denham-henty/.
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