Australian Dictionary of Biography

William Cattanach (1863-1932), administrator, was born on 17 May 1863 at Hotham (North Melbourne), son of Thomas Cattanach, builder, and his second wife Mary, née Masterton, both Scottish-born. He was educated at denominational and state schools and matriculated from Scotch College in 1880. After six years as an accountant with the Bank of Victoria, he became town clerk of Flemington and Kensington and then Essendon.

In May 1906 (Sir) Thomas Bent's government appointed Cattanach one of the three members of the newly constituted State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. He succeeded Dr Elwood Mead as chairman in 1915. The commission was set up to direct the investigation, development and control of country water-supplies throughout Victoria. It became responsible for the administration of closer settlement in irrigation districts in 1912, and after 1918 for the settlement of discharged soldiers from World War I; by 1923 some two thousand soldier settlers were located in irrigated areas, notably Red Cliffs, Woorinen, Merbein, Nyah, Stanhope, Tongala, Shepparton and Rodney. With the assistance of quite a small settlement branch he had to deal with practically every problem of allocation, many of which were very difficult.

Cattanach played a leading part in obtaining government support for co-operative canneries at Kyabram and Mooroopna on the lines of the successful Shepparton cannery set up in 1916. He also aided establishment of co-operative packing sheds for dried vine-fruits at Red Cliffs, Merbein and Woorinen and was active in the negotiations for marketing canned fruits overseas. Under his administration, new and enlarged reservoirs added greatly to the capacity of the country water-storages of the State, and the irrigated areas increased by 50 per cent.

Cattanach was tall and well built, with crisp curly hair, but he was acutely cross-eyed and this certainly disturbed any who might argue with him. Except for the very few who worked closely with him, most of his officers feared rather than liked him. He was very hard-working, and he took no recreation leave in his years as chairman. In 1912 he had visited the United States of America, and in 1927 he toured Canada to seek markets for Victorian canned and dried fruits.

Away from the office Cattanach was friendly and even charming. He was several times president of the Old Scotch Collegians' Association, was a popular member of the Wallaby (walking) Club, and an interesting travelling companion on visits to country districts. In 1925 he was appointed C.M.G.

Cattanach married Kate Lachlan Robertson at the age of 39; they had no children. For many years they lived at the George Hotel, St Kilda. He died on 20 July 1932 while still in office, and was buried in Melbourne general cemetery. His estate was valued for probate at £14,591.

Cattanach had made a substantial contribution to the development of Victorian water-resources, the expansion of irrigation, the subdivision of large holdings for closer settlement and the development of the fruit industry.