Australian Dictionary of Biography

Joseph Aloysius Carrodus (1885-1961), public servant, was born on 3 September 1885 at Richmond, Melbourne, third child of William Carrodus, baker, and his wife Catherine Elizabeth, née Nix, both Victorian born. Educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, Joseph matriculated with honours in English, French and history. On 11 August 1904 he became a clerk in the Commonwealth Department of External Affairs. After three years he moved to its international treaties section where his knowledge of French proved valuable. He subsequently acted as private secretary to the minister, undertook considerable confidential work and was highly regarded by his superiors.

On 26 July 1915 Carrodus enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Although immediately accepted for officer training, he was always to emphasize that he began as a private. Reaching the Western Front in November 1916 as a lieutenant in the 37th Battalion, he was promoted captain in April 1917 and wounded in action on 12 October. His A.I.F. appointment terminated in Melbourne on 4 September 1919.

Resuming his career as a public servant, in the 1920s Carrodus headed the Papua, New Guinea and Norfolk Island branch of the Department of Home and Territories. From August to October 1923 he visited Papua and New Guinea; his report formed the basis of a review of Australian government policy on the administration of those territories. Chosen to represent Australia at the 1926 meetings of the Permanent Mandates Commission at Geneva, Switzerland, he was accompanied to Europe by his wife Mabel Florence Maud, née Waters, whom he had married on 14 March 1923 at St Silas's Anglican Church, Albert Park, Melbourne. They settled in Canberra in 1927.

Carrodus was acting-administrator of the Northern Territory for six months in 1934. He was appointed secretary, Department of Interior, on 25 November 1935. Consolidating his position as an administrator and government adviser, he played a major role in developing policies on Aboriginal affairs in the Northern Territory and on the growth of the Australian Capital Territory, and was influential on immigration issues. The failure of successive Federal governments to accept a large number of Jewish refugees in 1936-45 reflected Carrodus's persistent advice to refuse them entry, as much as it did the wishes of politicians. In his attitude to Jews suffering persecution in Europe, he showed a clear understanding of their circumstances, but shared the common indifference to their needs. He was appointed C.B.E. in 1939.

Clear sighted and single minded, Carrodus took a no-nonsense approach to administration. He was generous to, and supportive of, new and junior officers, and encouraged staff development. From May 1949 until his retirement in September 1950, he was director of civil defence. A good footballer and oarsman in his youth, he later enjoyed swimming and golf. He died on 8 April 1961 in Canberra Community Hospital and was buried in Canberra cemetery; his wife, daughter and son survived him.