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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 John Curtin

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John Curtin

John Curtin was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1941 to 1945.

About John Curtin

Portrait of John Curtin

  • Born: 8 January 1885
  • Died: 5 July 1945
  • Partner: Elsie Curtin
  • Political party: Australian Labor Party
  • Image: NAA: A5954, 661/12

Australia's 14th Prime Minister is widely regarded as one of the greatest. John Curtin’s achievement rests on his leadership of the nation during much of World War II. Curtin rejected the British strategy for the deployment of Australian troops in Burma. He insisted they be used for the defence of New Guinea and Australia. In a remarkable move, Curtin also put US General Douglas MacArthur in charge of Australia's defence forces in the south-west Pacific. Although he had been a strong opponent of conscription during World War I, as leader during the 1939-45 conflict, Curtin decided to send conscripted troops to serve outside Australia.

Curtin was also intent on ensuring that Australia emerge from the war free from the unemployment problems of the 1930s. He aimed for a policy of work for all who wanted it, arguing this could be achieved in peacetime as it had in war.

John Curtin died in office, on 5 July 1945, just 6 weeks before the end of the war in the Pacific.

Did you know?

John Curtin:

  • was the only prime minister to have been in jail (as an anti-conscriptionist in 1916)
  • was one of only two prime ministers from Western Australia (Bob Hawke was the other), although it was the birthplace of neither
  • held no ministerial posts before taking office
  • opposed conscription during World War I, but introduced limited overseas service for conscripts in World War II
  • was one of the three prime ministers who died in office (Joseph Lyons died in 1939 and Harold Holt in 1967), but the only one to die at The Lodge
  • neither owned, nor drove, a car
  • was commemorated with the opening of Australia's first prime ministerial library: John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library

 

In this section: John Curtin

  • 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

Excerpt from ABC radio broadcast of the Prime Minister's address to the nation.

Australia declares war with Japan – excerpt of Prime Minister John Curtin's address to the nation

Excerpt from ABC radio broadcast of the Prime Minister's address to the nation.

Record

The defence of Singapore –  correspondence from Prime Minister John Curtin to UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The defence of Singapore – correspondence from Prime Minister John Curtin to UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill

A cablegram sent on 17 January 1942 from John Curtin to Winston Churchill, on his views on the level of British commitment to the defence of Singapore.

Record

White Australia to be defended against Japan - extract from speech by Prime Minister John Curtin.

White Australia to be defended against Japan – extract from speech by Prime Minister John Curtin

A typed extract from the transcript of a speech by Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, in which he declares that Australia will resist any Japanese invasion.

Records about John Curtin

View selected National Archives' records about John Curtin

View records

Explore Prime Ministers

Portrait of Arthur Fadden

Arthur Fadden

1941–1941

Portrait of Francis Forde.

Francis Forde

1945–1945

Ben Chifley portrait

Ben Chifley

1945–1949

Old Parliament House, Canberra

All prime ministers

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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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