Stanley Haviland

Stanley Haviland CBE (13 April 1899 – 2 June 1972) was a New South Wales public servant who served as Under Secretary of the Department of Local Government from 1946 to 1960, and was President of the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board from 1960 to 1965.

After education at Cleveland Street Superior School, Haviland joined the New South Wales Public Service when he was appointed a junior clerk in the Department of Lands on 13 April 1915.

[14] On 20 June 1945, Haviland was appointed by the Minister for Local Government, Joseph Cahill, as a commissioner on the Clancy Royal Commission on Local Government Boundaries charged with investigating whether the boundaries of the City of Sydney should be extended and which areas should be amalgamated, and whether any other areas in the County of Cumberland be united, divided or otherwise altered and reconstituted as a municipality or shire.

[24] In the 1957 New Year Honours he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work as the head of the Department of Local Government.

[26][27] In late 1954, Premier Joseph Cahill appointed Haviland to serve as chairman of the Sydney Opera House Executive Committee, with the responsibility to investigate suggestions for its location and design.

[38][39] His term of office was noted for having "promoted staff relations, eased formality, and was involved in improving and beautifying picnic areas at the board's dams.

"[24] Haviland was responsible for the development of public facilities and picnic areas in the former construction zone around Warragamba Dam when it was completed in 1960.

[40] When his term as president of the water board ended on 22 September 1965, Haviland did not go into quiet retirement and had been appointed on 25 August 1965 to serve as a member of the Royal Commission of inquiry into rating, valuation and local government finance, chaired by Justice Rae Else-Mitchell.

[42][46] He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1976 and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977.

Haviland married Florence Nunn at the Glen Innes Methodist Church in 1920 (now Chapel Theatre).
The Sydney Opera House under construction in 1966. Haviland led the committees directing the design, location and development of the Opera House project from 1954 to 1969.