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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.

This is a black-and-white portrait of Prime Minister Harold Holt.

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  3. Australia's prime ministers
  4. Harold Holt
  5. Harold Holt: records

Harold Holt: records

This page lists significant records for Harold Holt held by the National Archives and other institutions.

National Archives' records

Our collection includes records from Harold Holt's time as prime minister and member of parliament.

This is a selection of records from our collection, including Commonwealth records and Holt's personal papers (CP 27).

  • Briefcase, wallets and related personal papers of Harold Holt, 1924­–97 (series M4298)
  • Press cuttings booklet of Harold Holt, 1926­–67 (series A1728)
  • Correspondence files maintained by Holt as Prime Minister, 1929­–67 (series M2684)
  • Ministerial correspondence collected by Harold Holt, 1935­–40 (series B3230)
  • General correspondence files relating to Harold Holt as Assistant Minister for Supply and Development, 1939­–40 (series B3229)
  • Papers relating to youth unemployment maintained by HE Holt as Assistant Minister for Supply and Development, 1939­–40 (series MP392/4)
  • Personal papers of Harold Holt, 1941­–67 (series M4299)
  • Correspondence files of HE Holt as Treasurer and Prime Minister, 1943­–67 (series M2606)
  • Personal papers of Harold Edward Holt, 1943­–68 (series M4295)
  • Folders of speeches and articles, 1946­–65 (series M2607)
  • Folders of minutes of the meetings and related documents of the Organising Committee for the XVIth Olympiad and sub-Committees, 1950­–57 (series M946)
  • Correspondence files of HE Holt as Treasurer, 1950­–66 (series M2568)
  • Travel diaries and letters of Harold Holt, 1952­–65 (series M2608)
  • Pen sketches of Harold Holt and William McMahon by Paul Hasluck, 1959 (series A2668)
  • Press cuttings relating to the Seven Nation Summit conference, Manila, Philippines, 24-25 October 1966, 1966 (series A1664)
  • Set of two facsimile manuscripts by Jose Rizal presented by the President of the Philippines and Mrs Ferdinand E Marcos, 1966 (series A1666)
  • Press cuttings regarding the Commonwealth prime ministers' conference, 1966 (series A1729)
  • Press cuttings relating to Holt's succession as Prime Minister, 1966 (series A1730)
  • Folders of papers maintained by Holt while Prime Minister, 1966­–67 (series M2684)
  • Correspondence files of the Prime Minister relating to foreign affairs, 1966­–67 (series A7854)
  • Press reports on the visit of Holt to the Republic of China, 4-6 April, 1967 (series A1665)
  • Appointment diaries maintained by Private Secretary, 1967 (series A2587)
  • Appointment diary maintained by Assistant Private Secretary, 1967 (series A2588)
  • Papers contained in the briefcase of Holt at the time of his death, 1967 (series M1945)
  • Speeches and related papers of HE Holt, 1967 (series M4249)
  • Condolence letters and books sent on the death of the Rt Hon. HE Holt, 1967­–68 (series M2655)

You can search a collection of Australian prime ministerial transcripts dating from the early 1940s on PM Transcripts.

Research guide

For details of the records on Harold and Zara Holt held by the National Archives and other institutions, you can use Harold Holt: guide to archives of Australia's prime ministers.

Biography

For further reading, we recommend The life and death of Harold Holt, a book by Tom Frame.

In this section: Harold Holt

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

Records at other institutions

These institutions also hold records on Harold Holt.

Australian organisations

Australian Capital Territory

  • Australian War Memorial, Canberra
  • National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra
  • National Library of Australia, Canberra

New South Wales

  • Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
  • State Library of New South Wales, Sydney

Queensland

  • John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
  • Queensland State Archives, Brisbane

Victoria

  • Queens College Archives, University of Melbourne, Melbourne
  • State Library of Victoria, Melbourne
  • University of Melbourne Archives, Melbourne
  • Wesley College Archives, Melbourne

International organisations

United Kingdom

  • Archives of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London

Canada

  • Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa

United States

  • Archives of the World Bank, Washington
  • Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Austin
  • National Archives and Records Administration, Maryland

Want some help?

Our research tips and guides could help you find what you need

Help with your research

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All prime ministers

Explore the stories of each prime minister's time in office through official and personal records held by the National Archives.

Acknowledgement of Country

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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