Background
Street was born in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra and educated at Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney.
Street was born in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra and educated at Sydney Grammar School and the University of Sydney.
University of Sydney.
In 1914, he volunteered for military service and served in the First Australian Imperial Force and was wounded in the Gallipoli landing and served later in France and Belgium. Street was awarded the Military Cross in 1917, and in 1919 was discharged with the rank of major. Street married Evora Francis Currie in 1918 and purchased part of his father-in-law"s property in the Western District of Victoria and became a successful sheep grazier and local politician.
He became a councillor of Hampden Shire Council in 1924 and its president in 1931 – 1932.
He became Minister for Defence in November 1938 and played a major role in the expansion of the military and munitions production prior to the outbreak of World World War II and pushed the National Registration Acting (1939) through parliament despite strong opposition. Following the outbreak of war he worked energetically to put Australia on a war footing, although from November 1939, Menzies abolished the position of Minister for Defence and appointed Street Minister for the Army and Minister for Repatriation.
Street died in the Canberra air disaster, 1940, along with two other Cabinet ministers.