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James Nimmo

1912 – 1984

Australian public servant

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About James Nimmo

Lived 1912 – 1984 (aged 71–72). James Nimmo was an Australian civil servant.

James Ferguson Nimmo (191215 December 1984) was a senior Australian public servant and policy maker, best known for his time as Secretary of the Department of Housing.

Life and career James Nimmo was born in 1912. He attended Geelong College and then the University of Melbourne. Whilst in his final year of university (studying economics), he worked for Lyndhurst Giblin as a research secretary.

Moving to Canberra in 1935 to take up a temporary appointment at the Bureau of Census and Statistics. He was awarded a permanent position in 1938, after a short period of study at the London School of Economics. His career over the next couple of decades included a period of time at the Rationing Commission and then later in the Treasury.

Between 1960 and 1963, Nimmo was a Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department. Then from 1963 to 1973, he was Secretary of the Department of Housing.

In December 1973, Nimmo was appointed a Member of the Commonwealth Grants Commission.

Nimmo was Commissioner of an Inquiry into Transport to and from Tasmania. He submitted the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Transport to and from Tasmania in 1976, and it became known as the Nimmo Report.

Nimmo died at the Royal Canberra Hospital on 15 December 1984. He was promoted to Commander of the Order in June 1966 while Secretary of the Department of Housing.

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Important facts

Born
1912
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
University of Melbourne, The Geelong College, Master of Arts
Awards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Also known as
James Ferguson Nimmo

People in James Nimmo's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped James Nimmo's

Frequently asked questions

Who was James Nimmo?

Australian public servant

When was James Nimmo born?

James Nimmo was born in 1912.

When did James Nimmo die?

James Nimmo died on 15 December 1984 in Royal Canberra Hospital.

What was James Nimmo's occupation?

James Nimmo was a civil servant.

What nationality was James Nimmo?

James Nimmo was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James Nimmo

· Wikidata: Q18164225

· DBpedia: James Nimmo

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Nimmo. https://biography.guide/james-nimmo/

MLA: "James Nimmo." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-nimmo/.

Chicago: "James Nimmo." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-nimmo/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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