Frederick Austin (Fred) Johnston

Frederick Austin Johnston (9 October 1909 – 19 May 1990) was an Australian businessman and political activist. He ran one of Western Australia's largest meat-processing firms and served on the Perth City Council from 1963 to 1965, also serving terms as president of the Liberal and Country League and the Australian Council of Employers' Federations.

Early life Johnston was born on 9 October 1909 in Blaydon, Durham, England. He was the son of Elizabeth Florence (née Johnston) and William Oliver Johnston, his father being a butcher. He attended secondary school in Wallsend. The family immigrated to Australia in 1926, settling in Perth where his father opened a butcher's shop on Barrack Street. The shop relocated to Beaufort Street in 1929.

Business career Johnston became managing director of W. O. Johnston & Sons in 1942. The company became "one of Western Australia’s biggest meat-processing firms", In 1947, the company was fined for producing sausages with too much starch. Johnston claimed in 1949 that the company would soon close down due to inconsistent electricity supply and a shortage of meat. In October 1964 he announced that his firm had become insolvent, stating in a notice to creditors that "the stock and receivables of the company had been gravely overvalued". It was taken over in 1967 by Talloman Holdings. In 1954 he publicly criticised federal opposition leader H. V. Evatt's statements on the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. He was also a member of the council of the Chamber of Manufactures (1949–1957). He served a further term from 1957 to 1961, and again "rallied business support" in the lead-up to the 1959 state election. He served on the Perth City Council from 1963 to 1965. He died in Subiaco, Western Australia, on 19 May 1990, aged 80. He was also made Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1963 for service to the Commonwealth Games.