Skip to main content

Home

Main navigation

  • Explore the collection
    • Search the collection: RecordSearch
      • What's in the collection
      • Defence and war service records
      • First Australians
      • Immigration and citizenship
      • Cabinet
      • Intelligence and security
      • Prime ministers
      • Search for people
      • Visit our other websites
      • #ArchivesAtHome
      • Stories from the archives
  • Help with your research
      • Getting started
      • What's in the collection
      • Using the collection
      • International movement records
      • Research centres
      • Research guides
      • Research grants and scholarships
      • Research agents
      • Ask us about the collection
  • Students and teachers
      • School visits
      • Learning resources
      • Competitions and special programs
  • Information management
      • Getting started
      • Building trust in the public record
      • Public release schedule
      • Ask for advice
      • Information governance
      • Build data interoperability
      • Check-up survey
      • Legislation
      • Manage information assets
      • GAIN Australia
      • Standards
      • Metadata
      • Records authorities
      • Learning and skills
      • Information Awareness Month 2023
  • Visit us
      • Events and exhibitions
      • Research centres
      • Our locations
      • Cafe Constitution
      • Venue hire
      • Contact us
  • About us
      • What we do
      • Support us
      • Employment
      • Who we are
      • Partnerships
      • Volunteer
      • Our services
      • Members
      • Media and publications
      • Contact us
  • Toggle search
  • Toggle menu

Offscreen Menu

Menu

MAIN MENU

  • Explore the collection
    • What's in the collection
    • Defence and war service records
    • First Australians
    • Immigration and citizenship
    • Cabinet
    • Intelligence and security
    • Prime ministers
    • Search for people
    • Visit our other websites
    • #ArchivesAtHome
    • Stories from the archives
  • Help with your research
    • Getting started
    • What's in the collection
    • Using the collection
    • International movement records
    • Research centres
    • Research guides
    • Research grants and scholarships
    • Research agents
    • Ask us about the collection
  • Students and teachers
    • School visits
    • Learning resources
    • Competitions and special programs
  • Information management
    • Getting started
    • Building trust in the public record
    • Public release schedule
    • Ask for advice
    • Information governance
    • Build data interoperability
    • Check-up survey
    • Legislation
    • Manage information assets
    • GAIN Australia
    • Standards
    • Metadata
    • Records authorities
    • Learning and skills
    • Information Awareness Month 2023
  • Visit us
    • Events and exhibitions
    • Research centres
    • Our locations
    • Cafe Constitution
    • Venue hire
    • Contact us
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Support us
    • Employment
    • Who we are
    • Partnerships
    • Volunteer
    • Our services
    • Members
    • Media and publications
    • Contact us

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

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Explore the collection
  3. Australia's prime ministers
  4. John Curtin
  5. John Curtin: fast facts

John Curtin: fast facts

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

Personal profile

Born

8 January 1885, Creswick, Victoria

Education

St Ambrose’s Primary, Brunswick, Melbourne

Employment

  • clerk
  • union organiser
  • journalist
  • politician

Memberships

  • trades unions
  • Australian Journalists' Association (c.1917-)
  • Workers' Educational Association

Marriage

21 April 1917, West Leederville, Western Australia

Children

  • Elsie (1917)
  • John (1921)

Died

5 July 1945, The Lodge, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Buried

Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth

Honours

  • Privy Councillor (1942)

Partner

Name

Elsie Curtin

Previous name

Elsie Needham

Born

4 October 1890, Ballarat, Victoria

Memberships

  • Australian Labor Party
  • Labor Women (1917-75)
  • Australian Red Cross Society
  • Western Australia Labor Women’s Organisation
  • Royal Association of Justices
  • Women Justices Association

Died

24 June 1975, Cottesloe, Western Australia

Honours

  • Justice of the Peace (1955)
  • Commander, Order of the British Empire (CBE; 1970)

Political profile

Term as Prime Minister

7 October 1941 to 5 July 1945

Terms as Member of Parliament

  • House of Representatives
    • 6 February 1929 to 19 December 1931
    • 23 October 1934 to 5 July 1945 (Fremantle)
  • Leader of the Opposition: October 1935 to 7 October 1941
  • Advisory War Council: 29 October 1940 to 5 July 1945

Portfolios

  • Defence Coordination
    • 7 October 1941 to 14 April 1942
  • Defence
    • 14 April 1942 to 5 July 1945

Political membership

  • Australian Labor Party (1935-45)
    • federal parliamentary leader (1935 to 1945)

In this section: John Curtin

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

Want some help?

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

Help with your research

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

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.

Connect with us

  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • YouTube YouTube
  • Instagram Instagram

Subscribe to our newsletter

Site map

  • Contact us

    • +61 2 6212 3600
    • archives@naa.gov.au
    • ABN: 36 889 228 992
  • For researchers

    • RecordSearch
    • What's in the collection
    • Using the collection
    • Ask us a question about our records
    • Getting started with your research
    • Research guides
    • Grants and scholarships
    • Our other websites
  • For government

    • Agency Service Centre
    • Check-up survey
    • Building trust in the public record policy
    • Getting started with information management
    • Information governance
    • Records authorities

    For students & teachers

    • School programs
    • Plan a school visit
    • Competitions and special programs
    • Learning resources
  • Shop

    • Browse our products

    Visit us

    • Admission to the Archives is free
    • Events and exhibitions
    • Research centres
    • Our locations
  • About us

    • What we do
    • Our organisation
    • Our services
    • Our history
    • Partnerships
    • Work for us
National Archives of Australia
  • Privacy
  • Freedom of information
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
National Archives of Australia