Thomas Grahamslaw

Thomas Grahamslaw, (3 March 1901 – 16 December 1973) was an Australian public servant. He spent most of his life in Papua and New Guinea, where he worked as a civil servant and served as an official member of the Legislative Council.

Biography Grahamslaw was born in Townsville in 1901, the eldest of six children of Annie (née Meldon) and James Grahamslaw. His father was a tinsmith who had immigrated from Scotland, while his mother had been born in Australia. The family moved to the Territory of Papua in 1911, with Grahamslaw attending school in Port Moresby. In 1943 he transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force, and in early 1944 was given responsibility for Lakekaum district, before taking over the administration of a much larger area later in the year. In 1945 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, remaining in the army until being demobilised in February 1946.

In 1955, Grahamslaw succeeded Lee as Collector of Customs, and rejoined the Legislative Council. In 1960 he was also appointed to the Executive Council. He retired the following year and moved to New South Wales. His first marriage having ended in divorce, he married Mary Emilie Chase in October 1961. He died in December 1973 in Gosford.