George Freudenstein

Who was George Freudenstein?

George Francis Freudenstein was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1981, representing the electorate of Young. He served variously as Minister for Cultural Activities, Minister for Conservation, and Minister for Mines and Energy in the Askin Coalition government.

Freudenstein was born in Young, and was educated at Warrunga Primary School and Grenfell High School. He worked as a bank clerk with the Rural Bank in Sydney after leaving school, but enlisted in the military during World War II, seeing active service in Papua New Guinea from 1942 to 1946. He returned to his family property, Chippendale, after the war, where he farmed and bred cattle. He was a committee member of the Pastoral and Agricultural Association, and served as the secretary of the Young branch of the Country Party.

Freudenstein first attempted to enter politics at the 1956 state election, when he was defeated by the long-time Labor MLA for Young, Fred Cahill. Freudenstein finished third on that occasion; leakage from his preferences re-elected Cahill over the Liberal candidate.