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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.

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Portrait of Ben Chifley

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  5. Ben Chifley: fast facts

Ben Chifley: fast facts

Ben Chifley was the prime minister of Australia from 1945 to 1949.

Personal profile

Born

22 September 1885, Bathurst, New South Wales

Education

Patrician Brothers high school, Bathurst (around 1899 to around1901)

Employment

  • engine-driver
  • politician

Memberships

  • Roman Catholic Church
  • Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners Association (1916 to 1920)
  • Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen (1920 to 1931)

Marriage

6 June 1914, Glebe, New South Wales

Children 

None

Died

13 June 1951, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Buried

Bathurst Cemetery, New South Wales

Honours

Privy Councillor (1945)

Partner

Name

Elizabeth Gibson Chifley

Previous name

Elizabeth Gibson McKenzie

Born

1 August 1886, Bathurst, New South Wales

Died

9 September 1962, Bathurst, New South Wales

Political profile

Term as Prime Minister

13 July 1945 to 19 December 1949

Terms as Member of Parliament

  • House of Representatives:
    • 6 February 1929 to 19 December 1931
    • 20 November 1940 to 13 June 1951 (Macquarie)
  • Leader of the Opposition: 19 December 1949 to 13 June 1951
  • Advisory War Council:
    • March to June 1942
    • April to September 1943
    • April to July 1944

Portfolios

  • Defence: 3 March 1931 to 6 January 1932
  • Treasurer: 7 October 1941 to 19 December 1949
  • Postwar Reconstruction: 22 December 1942 to 2 February 1945

Political memberships

  • Abercrombie Shire Council (1933 to 1947)
  • Australian Labor Party (1945 to 1951)
    • federal parliamentary leader (13 July 1945 to 13 June 1951)

Chifley died while in the position of Leader of the Opposition (19 December 1949 to 13 June 1951)

In this section: Ben Chifley

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

Want some help?

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