Background
Gollan was born in Woodburn, New South Wales and was the son of a farmer.
Gollan was born in Woodburn, New South Wales and was the son of a farmer.
He was educated at state schools and initially worked as a bush worker in rural New South Wales.
He held numerous ministerial positions between 1953 and 1959. He later owned various businesses in Sydney including a chain of butcher shops and hotels. Gollan was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the Labor member for Randwick at the 1941 state election.
He defeated the sitting United Australia Party member, Arthur Moverley in the landslide victory that allowed William McKell to form a government.
He held the seat at the next 6 elections and retired at the 1962 state election. In retirement he became a supporter of the Liberal Party of Australia.
During the premierships of Joseph Cahill and Robert Heffron, Gollan held numerous ministerial positions including Secretary for Mines and Secretary for Lands. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1962.
He was a member of the Australian Labor Party.