Foundation Dean of Economics and Politics

Professor Cochrane graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Professor Cochrane was a research scholar at the University of Melbourne, 1941; lecturer in economics, 1945-47; research scholar at University of Cambridge, 1947-48; senior lecturer in economics at University of Melbourne, 1949-55; economist with Department of Economic Affairs, United Nations, 1951-52; Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce and Sidney Myer Chair of Commerce, University of Melbourne, 1955-60.

During World War II, Professor Cochrane served as a Flight Lieutenant with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Professor Cochrane was appointed Professor of Economics and founding dean of the Faculty of Economics and Politics in October 1960. In 1966 the deanship became a full time position. Professor Cochrane retired from Monash University in 1981.

Minute of Appreciation Professorial Board Meeting 8/81 (pdf 636kb)

• Member of Committee of Inquiry into the Salaries and Allowances of Members of the Victorian State Parliament (1959, 1973);
• South-East Asia Treaty Organisation travelling lecturer to Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines (1960);
• Commissioner of the State Savings Bank of Victoria (1961-83);
• Member of the Board of Inquiry into the Portland wool sales dispute (1961-1962);
• Member of the Export Development Council (1961-66);
• Member of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Educational TV (1964);
• Member of Australian Research Grants Committee (1966-69);
• Member of Commonwealth Bureau of Roads (1966-74);
• Member of the Defence Business Board (1968-76);
• Chairman of Board of Inquiry into Papua New Guinea wages (1970);
• Chairman of Committee of Inquiry into Labor Market Training (1974);
• Chairman of the State Savings Bank of Victoria (1974-83);
• Member of Defence Industry Committee (1977-79);
• Chairman of the Australian Council for Union Training (1978);
• Chairman of the Executive Board of the Australian Trade Union Training Authority (1978-83);
• Member of Inquiry into Electricity Tariffs for the Aluminium Industry (1981);
• Deputy Chairman of Tricontinental Holdings

• Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (1974);
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1975);
• Honorary Doctor of Economics, Monash University (1982);
• Donald Cochrane Library is named in Professor Cochrane's honour;
• Donald Cochrane Postgraduate Research Scholarship funded by the Cochrane-Schofield Family Charitable Trust is awarded in Professor Cochrane's honour.

Who's Who in Australia, 1983; personnel file