Records of the Liberal Party of Australia, circa 1945-1990 [manuscript]

The Liberal Party of Australia was established in 1944 after a meeting called by the then Leader of the Opposition (United Australia Party) Robert Menzies. Menzies' vision included a national and permanent 'liberal' party to bring together the different existing non-Labor groupings. The formation of the Liberal Party followed the defeat of the United Australia Party in the 1943 federal election. Its earlier predecessors included the Nationalist Party and the Commonwealth Liberal Party. The formation of the Liberal Party was formally announced in Sydney on 31 August 1945. In 1949 the Liberal Party, in coalition with the Country Party, was first elected to national government. The Party also governed in coalition from 1975-1983 and 1996-2007. Robert Menzies was Liberal Prime Minister from 1949-1966 and became the Liberal Party's longest-serving leader.