Fact sheet 211 – Alfred Deakin

Prime Minister of Australia 1903–04, 1905–08 and 1909–10

Three times Prime Minister in a politically volatile decade, Alfred Deakin commenced his first term in September 1903, leading the Protectionist government after Edmund Barton’s appointment to the High Court of Australia. Deakin had served previously as Attorney-General in Barton’s inaugural government. He had a notable background in law, journalism and Victorian politics, where he had played a prominent role in the federation of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Deakin served as Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs from 24 September 1903 to 27 April 1904 and from 5 July 1905 to 13 November 1908. He was again Prime Minister – this time leading a Fusion government that comprised the non-Labor parties – from 2 June 1909 to 29 April 1910.

Deakin’s government was instrumental in establishing and strengthening the essential machinery of state. His second term (1905–08) was his most significant, earning him the title ‘the constructor’ as his government dealt with issues including the public service, defence policy and military infrastructure, external affairs, federal financial relations and the High Court. Other important measures included the transfer of the Northern Territory from South Australia to the Commonwealth, establishing Canberra as the federal capital site and amendments to the Judiciary Act and the Immigration Restriction Act. Deakin’s second term, like his first, depended upon Labor Party support, and his government was defeated when disagreements over legislation prompted Labor to withdraw from the alliance.

Deakin remained Leader of the Opposition (and of the Liberal Party he founded in 1909) until ill health forced his resignation in January 1913. He participated little in public life after his retirement, though he did chair the 1914 Royal Commission on Food Supplies and on Trade and Industry During the War and was the Commonwealth’s official representative at the Panama exhibition in 1915.

Alfred Deakin died in Melbourne on 7 October 1919, and was given a state funeral.

National Archives holdings relating to Alfred Deakin

The National Archives holds records relating to Alfred Deakin both as a Federation figure and a member of the Commonwealth parliament.

In the table below, reference numbers direct you to the item or series in RecordSearch, the Archives database. There you can find more information. In many cases you can view entire digitised records. The information will appear in a new browser window.
Collection references
SeriesRecords of the Australasian Federal Convention of 1897–981888–98R216 
ItemTransfer of the Northern Territory to the Commonwealth1901–11A452, 1954/621 
ItemSummary of work done in the Attorney-General’s Department during A Deakin’s term as Attorney-General1902–03A432, 1929/2611 
SeriesLetter book (with index for personal letters sent) of the Prime Minister’s Office1902–06A28 
ItemPostcard of A Deakin with a background of Australian and British flags1903A1719, 3592C 
ItemHigh Court Procedure Act1903–04A1, 1904/1772 
ItemCorrespondence of the Governor-General about the fall of the A Deakin government and formation of the J C Watson government1904A6662, 237 
ItemPapers relating to the federal capital site – correspondence between A Deakin and the NSW Premier1905A18, 5 
ItemCorrespondence of and historical note on the fifth Commonwealth ministry (A Deakin)1905–08A5447, 9 part 2 
ItemSpeech by A Deakin on defence policy1907A5954, 1347/11 
ItemCorrespondence of the Governor-General about A Deakin’s resignation and A Fisher’s assumption of the office of Prime Minister1908–09A6662, 1292 
ItemCanberra as the federal capital site1908A2, 1908/3855 
SeriesIndustrial-related correspondence of the Prime Minister’s Office1909A60 
SeriesDeakin’s Cabinet notebooks (microfilm)1910A6562 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 1 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 2 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 3 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 4 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 5 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 6 
ItemRoyal Commission on food supplies and on trade and industry during the war1914–15A3832, RC13 item 7 
ItemDeakin as Commonwealth representative at the Panama exhibition1915A6006, 1915/12/31 

Further information

RecordSearch, the Archives database, will help you locate more records on this Prime Minister. You can also use it to identify the agencies that created the records. PhotoSearch may also contain photos pertaining to your subject. Both RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online and in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff there can help you, or you can email ref@naa.gov.au.

The Archives has also published a series of research guides about prime ministers. You can download them as PDFs, or order the published versions from the Archives shop. See Prime Ministers Guides.

Australia's Prime Ministers portal website

link to the National Archives Australian Prime Ministers Portal Website
The National Archives of Australia has developed a new portal website on Australia's 25 prime ministers. It features short biographies of the prime ministers and their wives, a ready reference called Fast Facts, photographs, original documents and more.

The portal's research map enables you to find Australian and overseas collections with archives on Australia's prime ministers. Visit primeministers.naa.gov.au.