The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Madden, Hon. Walter
Madden, Hon. Walter, M.L.A., brother of John Madden, was born at Cork in 1848, and went to Victoria in 1857. He began his career as a midshipman on the Victorian man of war Victoria, and studied marine surveying. When the vessel was put out of commission he turned his attention to land surveying, and entered the Survey Department of the Lands Office in 1865, becoming District Surveyor at Horsham. He was returned to the Assembly for the Wimmera in Jan. 1880, and still represents the constituency. He was Minister of Lands in the O'Loghlen Government from August 1881 to March 1883, and was sworn of the Executive Council. He has been Chairman of the country party in the Legislative Assembly, was Vice-President of the Commission on Vegetable Products appointed on his motion in 1886, and was a member of the Royal Commission on Irrigation and Water Supply.