Fact sheet 79 – Arthur William Fadden

Prime Minister of Australia, August–October 1941

Having served a single term in the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1932–35), Arthur Fadden entered the House of Representatives as a member of the Country Party following a by-election for the seat of Darling Downs in 1936.

A backbencher during the Lyons government, Fadden entered the government of Robert Menzies as a junior Minister (Supply and Development, and later Air, and Civil Aviation). Following the return of the United Australia Party/Country Party coalition government after the October 1940 general election, albeit with the support of two independents, Fadden was promoted to Treasurer. On ascending to the leadership of the Country Party, appointment as deputy Prime Minister was soon to follow.

In August 1941 Menzies resigned as Prime Minister, and was replaced by Fadden, who served until 7 October 1941 when the Independents, who provided his government's majority, agreed instead to support the John Curtin-led Labor Party. This brought about a change of government.

Remaining as Country Party leader, Fadden again became Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer when the Menzies Liberal-Country Party government returned to power in December 1949. He held both posts until his retirement in December 1958.

Records about Arthur Fadden held by the Archives

Although Fadden did publish a volume of his memoirs (They call me Artie, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane) in 1969, no collection of his personal records is known to exist.

The National Archives holdings include many records relating to Fadden's long period in Parliament, and especially his years as Treasurer. While his period as Prime Minister was brief he was Deputy Prime Minister for a number of years (1940–1941 and 1949–1958), and as a consequence also served as acting Prime Minister.
Selected records about Arthur Fadden held in Canberra
SeriesMenzies and Fadden Ministries – folders of minutes and submissions1939–41A2697 
ItemMenzies and Fadden Ministries – folders of minutes and submissions1939–41A2697, Roll 1 
ItemMenzies and Fadden Ministries – folders of minutes and submissions1939–41A2697, Roll 2 
ItemMenzies and Fadden Ministries – folders of minutes and submissions1939–41A2697, Roll 3 
ItemMenzies and Fadden Ministries – folders of minutes and submissions1939–41A2697, Roll 4 
ItemCensorship. Complaint re control and application of censorship. Deputation to Mr Fadden headed by EJ Ward MP1940–41SP109/3, 342/07 
ItemPortrait of Sir Arthur Fadden1941–60A463, 1965/2002 
ItemNew Guinea – visit to New Guinea by Messrs Harrison, Holt and Fadden1941A518, AL836/3 
ItemAdvisory War Council – appreciation of Mr Fadden's Chairmanship1941A5954, 207/8 
ItemAdministration. Mr Fadden appointed as Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Co-ordination1941A5954, 1597/8 
ItemCommission appointing Hattil Foll as Minister for Information, dated 29 August 1941 and signed by A Fadden1941–42A9357, 2 
ItemBudget: 1941/42 – Fadden1941CP6/2, 3 
ItemCriticism of Mr Fadden by the Minister for Labour and National Service1942A2684, 1025 
ItemFadden, Honourable Arthur William, appointment as member of the Privy Council1942A2926, A26 
ItemElection campaign, July/August 1943. Rural policy speech by Mr Fadden, Leader of the Country Party, 27 July 1943 with political and press comment1943A5954, 598/3 
ItemRt Hon. AW Fadden MP – Privilege motion – House of Representatives, October 19481948A432, 1948/1175 
ItemTeleprinter services for Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Fadden1950A461, A388/1/8 
ItemVisit abroad of Treasurer Right Hon. Sir Arthur Fadden – September 19551955–57A462, 114/59 
ItemMenzies Ministry – periods in which Sir Arthur Fadden acted as Prime Minister1955–57A463, 1958/131 

Selected records about Arthur Fadden held in Sydney
ItemMenzies, RG and Fadden, AW – announcement of end of the European War – Sydney 8 May 1945 (audio tape)1945C102, POL29 
ItemABC radio presentation by Sir A Fadden – '14th Security Loan'1951SP369/1, F/11 

Further information

link to the National Archives Australian Prime Ministers Portal Website

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

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.

As part of this new portal website, we have made a suite of new webpages about prime ministerial records in the National Archives.

Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au

updated June 2003