Gordon Bryant

Gordon Munro Bryant (3 August 1914 – 14 January 1991) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and represented the Division of Wills in Victoria from 1955 to 1980. During this time, he took an active interest in Indigenous land rights in Australia, in particular the case in Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, which led to the Yirrkala bark petitions. He served as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1972–1973) and Minister for the Capital Territory (1973–1975) in the Whitlam government.

Early life and education Gordon Munro Bryant was born on 3 August 1914 in Lismore, Victoria. He was the son of Agnes Keith (née Bain) and Donald Munro Bryant. His father, a storekeeper and farmer, was the nephew of Victorian premier James Munro. He came from a farming family, who were Scots Presbyterians, and allowed no alcohol, smoking, or gambling in the home.

Bryant moved to Baxter as a child and attended Frankston High School,

After leaving politics, he continued to be committed to Aboriginal issues, campaigning actively in the mid-1980s. eleven months prior to Hawke's ousting as Prime Minister.

Bryant's son Robin donated the family's Bark Petition to the National Museum of Australia in 2009.