Born and raised in Bathurst, Ben Chifley was one of Australias most respected Prime Ministers, being highly regarded by people from all political viewpoints. Chifley remained in office from July 1945 to December 1949.

Ben Chifley spent much of his childhood living with his grandparents on a farm outside Bathurst. Here he was exposed to the world of bush politics as well as witnessing the devastation of hte Depression which swept Australia in the late 1890's.

At 17 Chifley joined the NSW Railways. He climbed through the ranks to become a locomotive Driver, the youngest to do so at age 26.

In 1914 Chifley married Elizabeth McKenzie, the daughter of a fellow driver. They had no children , and although Elizabeth suffered a good deal of ill health, she survived her husband. Elizabeth was renowned in her own right for her work in the community.

For Chifley, the bitter experience of the Great Strike in 1917 and his involvement and concern with his Union took him on a path which led to federal politics. He won the seat of Macquarie in 1928, and in 1929 joined the Scullin Cabinet as Minister for Defence, only to lose his seat when the Government fell in December 1931.

Chifley took the position of Treasurer in Curtin's Government before being promoted to Prime Minister on Curtin's death, one month before the end of World War II. While in this position he continued to sit as a local Councillor on Abercrombie Shire Council.

As Prime Minister, Chifley played a leading and inspirational role in Australia’s post war reconstruction during a time of great social change.

His Government was responsible for founding the Snowy Mountain Hydro Electric Scheme, Qantas and TAA airlines, the Joint Coal Board, the Stevedoring Commission, the Australian National Shipping Line, reorganising and enlarging the CSIRO, the Australian National University and many programmes to provide opportunities for returning servicemen.

Ben Chifley made his final address on June 10, 1951:

“…I can no longer be called a young radical, but if I think a thing is worth fighting for, no matter what the penalty is, I will fight for the right, and truth and justice will prevail.”

On the night of June 13, 1951, working from his small modest room at the Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra he suffered a second massive and fatal heart attack.

Ben Chifley was always a warm and humorous man relishing (and embellishing) a good joke or story. He spoke with homely sincerity and lucidity to and for ordinary Australians to whom, as to him “the light on the hill was forever beckoning.”

The Bathurst branch of the Australian Labor Party hold and annual dinner, known as the Light on the Hill, to commemorate this great man.