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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 Earle Page

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Earle Page

Earle Page was the Prime Minister of Australia in 1939.

About Earle Page

Portrait of Earle Page

  • Born: 8 August 1880
  • Died: 20 December 1961
  • Partner: Ethel Esther Page
  • Political party: Australian Country Party
  • Image: NAA: A1200, L69705

Earle Christmas Grafton Page was Australia's 11th Prime Minister. He was Prime Minister for only 20 days, from 7 April 1939 to 26 April 1939. Page was also deputy Prime Minister to Stanley Bruce in 1923–29, and to Joseph Lyons in 1934–39. A founder of the Country Party, Page led the party in parliament from 1921 to 1939. He is also remembered for his long term as Minister for Health, from 1949 to 1956, in the Menzies government.

Described as ‘a man of boundless energy, fertile in ideas’, Page spoke at a rapid rate, rarely pausing for breath. His partnership with the deliberate and measured Stanley Bruce was an ideal political combination – particularly for political cartoonists. During the 1920s, cartoons depicted Bruce as a dapper gentleman and Page as ‘a rather riotous-looking lady’.

Did you know?

Earle Page:

  • was the founder of the Australian Country Party (now National Party)
  • governed in coalition with Stanley Bruce from 1923 to 1929
  • as treasurer, established the Loan Council in 1928
  • was one of the first Australians to own a car in 1904, and in the 1920s set up a Commonwealth aid program for road building
  • was the second prime minister with war service (Stanley Bruce was the first)
  • holds the record for the shortest official stay in Britain – 1 day (1925)
  • was the ‘Father of health insurance’
  • was nicknamed ‘the Doc’

In this section: Earle Page

  • 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

Children drinking milk at the Melbourne milk depot as part of the free school milk program.

Children drinking milk at the Melbourne milk depot as part of the free school milk program

Black-and-white photograph of a crowd of schoolchildren drinking milk from small milk bottles.

Records about Earle Page

View selected National Archives' records about Earle Page

View records

Explore Prime Ministers

Portrait of Joseph Lyons

Joseph Lyons

1932–1939

Portrait of Robert Menzies

Robert Menzies

1939–1941
1949–1966

Portrait of Arthur Fadden

Arthur Fadden

1941–1941

Old Parliament House, Canberra

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The 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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