Gourgaud was born on 3 October 1881 at Norton Diggings, near Gladstone, Queensland to parents Claudius Gourgaud and Mary Jane Gourgaud (née Barnes). Claudius had emigrated from France, and Mary Jane from England. He was appointed
Secretary of the
Department of Works and Railways in June 1929, his previous position had been chief clerk and assistant secretary in the Department. The
Great Depression restricted public operations, and in 1932 the Works Department was amalgamated with Home Affairs and Transport to form the
Department of the Interior, in which he was appointed Assistant Secretary. Gourgaud died on 30 August 1958 at Canberra Community Hospital, and was buried in
Canberra cemetery. ==Awards==