10 Interesting Trivia About Australia’s Prime Ministers

Australia has had 31 prime ministers in its history, and each one made their mark one way or another.

In this article, we list down 10 interesting trivia on some of these men (and the lone woman) who were privileged to be called prime minister.

1. The Only Australian Prime Minister During Queen Victoria’s Reign

Sir Edmund Barton has the distinction of becoming the very first prime minister of Australia, holding office for a total of two years and 266 days.

He is also the only Australian prime minister that held office during the lifetime of Queen Victoria. Sir Edmund Barton became prime minister on January 1, 1901, and Queen Victoria died just 21 days later on January 22.

2. The Only Australian Prime Minister During Edward VIII’s Reign

Similarly to Sir Edmund Barton, Joseph Lyons is the only Australian prime minister to have served during the short reign of King Edward VIII.

Lyons became prime minister on January 6, 1932. Edward VIII formally abdicated from the throne on December 10, 1936. Lyons ended her term in 1939, during the reign of Edward VIII’s brother, George VI.

3. The Longest-Serving Prime Minister

Holding office for a total of 18 years, five months, and 10 days, Sir Robert Menzies is Australia’s longest-serving prime minister.

He became the 12th prime minister of Australia in 1939 and his first term last for two years and 125 days. His second term began in 1949 and lasted for 16 years and 38 days.

4. The Shortest-Serving Prime Minister

If the longest-serving prime minister stayed in office for nearly two decades in total, the shortest-serving prime minister was in office for seven days. That was none other than Frank Forde.

Forde was an interim leader more than anything, assuming office due to the death of John Curtin, who died in office. Forde was eventually replaced by Ben Chifley.

5. The First Female Prime Minister

Julia Gillard became prime minister in 2010, making history as the first ever female to be named Australia’s prime minister.

She was engaged in a long political rivalry with her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, and she resigned as prime minister after losing the leadership of the Labour Party to him.

6. The Prime Minister Who Disappeared While Swimming

Only three prime ministers in Australia’s history have died while in office, and one of them is Harold Holt.

Believe it or not, he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach in Victoria. Although his body was never recovered, he was presumed dead.

7. The Prime Ministers Who Were Not Born in Australia

Not all prime ministers of Australia were born in the country. The following prime ministers were born outside of Australia:

• Andrew Fisher – Kilmarnock, Scotland
• Billy Hughes – London, England
• Chris Watson – Valparaíso, Chile
• Sir George Reid – Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Sir John Gorton – Wellington, New Zealand (however, he had no birth certificate)
• Sir Joseph Cook – Staffordshire, England
• Julia Gillard – Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
• Tony Abbott – London, England

8. The Prime Minister Who Won Victorian Father of the Year in 1971

Bob Hawke, the 23rd prime minister of Australia, received the Victorian Father of the Year in 1971. Hawke had four children, but only three survived into adulthood.

The award, however, was contested by his ex-wife, Hazel Masterson, who claimed that he was both a womaniser and a heavy drinker.

9. The Prime Minister Whose Chinese Name is Lu Kewen

Kevin Rudd has a Chinese name, and it’s none other than Lu Kewen.

Rudd graduated with Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) with First-Class Honours from the Australian National University. He majored in Chinese language and Chinese history, and is proficient in Mandarin.

10. The Prime Minister Who Was Told Growing Up That His Father Was Dead

The current prime minister believed when he was younger that his father Carlo, who was Italian, was killed in a car crash. That wasn’t exactly true.

Albanese only got to meet his father in 2009. Five years later, his father died.