Arthur Fadden

Fadden
Arthur Fadden
NAA: A6180, 4/2/77/30

Arthur Fadden was prime minister for only 40 days from 29 August to 7 October 1941. He was leader of the Country Party, deputy Prime Minister in coalition governments with Robert Menzies, and was acting Prime Minister for nearly two years.

Fadden was a member of the House of Representatives for 22 years, holding the rural Darling Downs seat in southern Queensland and then the seat of McPherson after an electoral redistribution. He was the leader of the Country Party for 17 years and Treasurer for ten of those years.

What's in the National Archives on Arthur Fadden?

The tables below list a sample of the Archives' records about Fadden.

Fadden before his term as Prime Minister

In 1940 Arthur Fadden became Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation, then Treasurer. In 1941 he was appointed chair of the Cabinet committee on economic and industrial matters.

Fadden was elected Leader of the Country Party in 1941, which he remained until he left politics in 1958. Before becoming Prime Minister in August 1941, Fadden also served as

  • Acting Prime Minister
  • Acting Minister for Defence Coordination
  • member of the War Cabinet
  • member of the Advisory War Council
Collection references
668831Advisory war council – appreciation of AW Fadden's chairmanship, 19411941A5954, 207/8 
431119_2Oaths and correspondence of the 21st Commonwealth ministry (RG Menzies), 19401940A5447, 37 
ItemBudget 1940–41 – supplementary financial statement by Treasurer AW Fadden, 19401940A571, 1941/273 
SeriesAgenda, minutes, correspondence and submissions of the Economic and Industrial Committee of Cabinet, 19411941A2708 
SeriesWeekly reports to the Minister for Air, 1940–451940–45CP960/5 

Fadden during his term as Prime Minister

Arthur Fadden served only 40 days as the Prime Minister of Australia (29 August – 7 October 1941) while also concurrently holding the position of Treasurer. He continued to lead the Country Party and serve as a member of the War Cabinet and the Advisory War Council.
Collection references
ItemInvitations and congratulations received as Prime Minister, and itineraries for interstate travel as Acting Prime Minister, 1941–421941–42A461, P4/1/12 
431104Oaths of the 23rd Commonwealth ministry (AW Fadden), 19411941A5447, 39 
ItemBudget of 1941–42, c1941c1941CP6/2, 3 
ItemExtract from the Sydney Morning Herald about AW Fadden's budget, draft broadcast and so on, 19411941CP6/2, 69 
SeriesNotebooks of the War Cabinet and the Advisory War Council, 1941–461941–46A9240 

Fadden after his term as Prime Minister

After his term as Prime Minister, AW Fadden was elected Leader of the Opposition (1941–43). When the Menzies government regained power in 1949, Fadden became Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister. He held both positions until his retirement in 1958.

During this time Fadden was Acting Prime Minister on several occasions, totalling 676 days in the top job. He served as a member of the Council of Defence. And he attended the Commonwealth finance ministers conference in London (1952). AW Fadden's memoirs were published in 1968.
Collection references
ItemCommonwealth finance ministers conference, 1952, 1951–521951–52A571, 1951/1723 Part 1 
240307Statements by AW Fadden, 1942–511942–51A5954, 2215/1 
ItemNotes on defence policy prepared for Acting Prime Minister's press conference, 19501950A5954, 1967/5 
239205Personal correspondence of AW Fadden, 1962–681962–68A5954, 62/1 

Ilma Fadden

Ilma Nita Thornber married Arthur Fadden in 1916. She was an active 'political wife' in both Townsville and Brisbane, and was active in the Country Women's Association and the Young Women's Christian Association throughout her life. She was a dedicated campaign worker and accompanied Arthur Fadden on many official overseas trips.
Collection references
91391Records of the Prime Minister's Department about the Prime Minister's residence, 1931–411931–41A461, E4/1/12 Part 2 

Significant subjects for Fadden-related research

During the course of AW Fadden's political career, issues of particular relevance included

  • the Canberra air disaster
  • the 'horror budget' of 1951–52
  • the Reserve Bank and the Commonwealth Banking Corporation
  • Country Party politics

Fadden was also involved in several court cases and represented Japanese interests in iron ore development in Australia.
Collection references
202588Records of the Investigation Branch on the aeroplane crash at Canberra on 13 August 1940, 1940–411940–41A1378, P8903 
ItemRecords of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization on the Communist Party of Australia – propaganda against the budget, 1951–531951–53A9108, Roll 15/10 
ItemPress cuttings on the budget of 1951–52, 19511951–52A571, 1951/2248 
ItemRecords of KH Bailey concerning AW Fadden, on topics including Japanese steel-makers, budget speech, balance of payments and import licensing, 1956–611956–61M1505, 442 
ItemRecords of KH Bailey concerning an industrial arbitration court case involving AW Fadden and Marcus Clark and Co. Ltd, 19511951M1506, 30/4 

Photographic and multimedia records relating to Fadden

Collection references
AudiovisualRadio broadcast of RG Menzies and AW Fadden announcing the end of the European war, 19451945C102, Pol29 
AudiovisualAudio tape of Prime Ministers' speeches, including that of AW Fadden, 19521952C102, Pol55 
ItemRecords of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority concerning visitors including AW Fadden, 19571957A11396, 133/5 
ItemOfficial portrait of AW Fadden as Prime Minister, 19411941A1200, L10005 
ItemPhotograph of HE Holt with AW Fadden, D Anthony, RG Menzies and HarrisonndA1200, L12819 

Relevant research guides

The National Archives has produced a number of research guides and fact sheets that may assist you with your research on Arthur Fadden. These are available from the website and in print versions.

Records of Australian prime ministers, 1901–71 (Fact Sheet 70)

Commonwealth banking policy (Fact Sheet 29)

Sir Arthur William Fadden (Fact Sheet 79)

Canberra air disaster, 1940 (Fact Sheet 142)

 

Research databases

RecordSearch contains searchable descriptions of millions of items from our collection. Many of them are wholly digitised.

PhotoSearch allows you to search and browse over 110 000 photographs from our collection.