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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 James Scullin

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  5. James Scullin: timeline

James Scullin: timeline

James Scullin was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1929 to 1932.

On this page

  • 1910 to 1919
  • 1920 to 1929
  • 1930 to 1939
  • 1940 to 1949
  • 1950 to 1959

1910 to 1919

1 Jul 1910: 1st elected to Federal Parliament

Scullin was elected as Member of Parliament for the seat of Corangamite (Vic.), in the 4th federal election.

31 May 1913: Lost seat

Scullin lost the seat of Corangamite at the 5th federal election.

1920 to 1929

18 Feb 1922: Re-elected to Parliament

Scullin was elected as Member of Parliament for the seat of Yarra (Vic.) as the result of a by-election.

22 Oct 1929: 9th Prime Minister

Scullin was sworn in as prime minister after the election of Australia's 3rd Labor government in the 12th federal election.

24 Oct 1929: Wall Street collapse

The fall of the New York Stock Exchange caused effects throughout the world. Investment loans were called in, and financial firms across the globe collapsed.

1930 to 1939

1 Jan 1930: Ticket to fly

Pioneer aviators Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm began the first air service between Sydney and Brisbane.

1 Dec 1930: New High Court justices

The Labor government filled 2 vacancies on the High Court. 36-year-old Herbert Vere Evatt became the youngest Justice of the High Court. Edward Aloysius McTiernan went on to become the oldest. Justice McTiernan served the longest term on the High Court, retiring in September 1976, aged 84.

22 Jan 1931: 9th Governor-General an Australian

Sir Isaac Isaacs became the 1st Australian-born Governor-General. He served until 23 January 1936.

19 Apr 1931: United Australia Party

Joseph Lyons formed the United Australia Party. It was a merger of the Nationalist Party and other groups, after Lyons left the Labor Party.

19 Dec 1931: 13th federal election

Scullin's Labor government was defeated in a landslide by the United Australia Party under Joseph Lyons.

6 Jan 1932: Left office

After Labor's electoral defeat, Scullin left office as prime minister. Joseph Lyons was sworn in.

1940 to 1949

10 Dec 1949: Left Parliament

Scullin had several serious bouts of ill-health during his long parliamentary career. The onset of renal failure forced his retirement in December 1949, aged 73.

1950 to 1959

28 Jan 1953: Death

Bedridden for many of his remaining years, Scullin died at his Melbourne home on 28 January 1953.

In this section: James Scullin

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

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Help with your research

Explore Prime Ministers

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Stanley Bruce

1923–1929

Portrait of Joseph Lyons

Joseph Lyons

1932–1939

Portrait of Earle Page

Earle Page

1939

Old Parliament House, Canberra

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