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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

Portrait of Ben Chifley

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  4. Ben Chifley

Ben Chifley

Joseph Benedict (Ben) Chifley was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949.

About Ben Chifley

Ben Chifley portrait

  • Born: 22 September 1885
  • Died: 13 June 1951
  • Partner: Elizabeth Gibson Chifley
  • Political party: Australian Labor Party
  • Image: NAA: A462, 778/03 PART 2

Ben Chifley was Australia’s 16th Prime Minister. A railway engine driver in his home town of Bathurst, New South Wales, Chifley became one of the most highly regarded of Australia’s prime ministers.

First elected in the seat of Macquarie in 1928, Chifley lost his seat in 1931 and was re-elected in 1940. Chifley was Treasurer in the Curtin Labor government in 1941 and was a prime mover of the economic organisation for the war. After Curtin's death on 5 July 1945, deputy Labor leader Frank Forde was sworn in as prime minister until Labor could elect a new leader. The Labor caucus elected Chifley as party leader on 12 July 1945, and he was sworn in as prime minister the following day.

Chifley was a committed centralist. As prime minister, he introduced national projects such as the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme and the assisted immigration program. He also pushed through legislation that enabled the Commonwealth to become the collector of income tax and sought nationalisation of the private banks so that the federal government could have more control over the economy.

Chifley lost office at the 1949 federal election, after his attempt to nationalise the banks. In Opposition, Chifley was against Robert Menzies’ proposal to ban the Communist Party – a major issue at the federal election of April 1951. Chifley died on 13 June 1951.

Did you know?

Ben Chifley:

  • became an engine-driver at 27 years old
  • was twice refused pre-selection, in a state election in 1922 and the 1937 federal election
  • refused to wear ceremonial clothes and became a Privy Councillor in his own suit
  • lost 2 federal elections (1931 and 1934) then won his seat back while in hospital in 1940
  • died 2 days after he was re-elected leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party on 11 June 1951

In this section: Ben Chifley

  • Fast facts
  • Timeline
  • Before office
  • Elections
  • During office
  • After office
  • Partner
  • Key people
  • Records

Learning Resources

Original records and material to help students with their research.

Record

Letter to Prime Minister Ben Chifley advocating for Aboriginal Representation in Parliament.

Request for First Australian representation in federal parliament – Letter to Prime Minister Chifley

This is a letter from Labor Member of Parliament Kim E Beazley (Senior) to Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

Record

Prime Minister Ben Chifley and Immigration Minister Arthur Calwell greet postwar migrants.

Prime Minister Ben Chifley and Immigration Minister greet postwar migrants

This is a photograph taken in 1947 of Prime Minister Ben Chifley greeting a recently arrived immigrant outside (Old) Parliament House in Canberra.

Record

Sir William McKell starts the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme by setting off a charge of dynamite.

Governor-General Sir William McKell launches construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme

Governor-General Sir William McKell officially starting the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme by pressing a plunger to set off a charge of dynamite.

Records about Ben Chifley

View selected National Archives' records about Ben Chifley

View records

Explore Prime Ministers

Portrait of Francis Forde.

Francis Forde

1945–1945

Portrait of Robert Menzies

Robert Menzies

1939–1941
1949–1966

Portrait of Harold Holt.

Harold Holt

1966–1967

Old Parliament House, Canberra

All prime ministers

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National Archives of Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, their cultures and Elders past, present and emerging.

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