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
      • Classroom resources
      • School visits
      • Teacher professional learning
      • Virtual excursions
      • Student research portal
      • 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
      • Federal election 2025
      • Learning and skills
  • 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
    • Classroom resources
    • School visits
    • Teacher professional learning
    • Virtual excursions
    • Student research portal
    • 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
    • Federal election 2025
    • Learning and skills
  • 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.

This is a black-and-white portrait of Prime Minister John Gorton.

Breadcrumb

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

John Gorton: fast facts

John Gorton was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1968 to 1971.

Personal profile

Born

9 September 1911, Wellington, New Zealand

Education

  • Geelong Grammar (1927-30)
  • Brasenose College, Oxford (1932-35)

Employment

  • orchardist
  • officer, Royal Australian Air Force (1940-44)
  • politician

Memberships

  • Melbourne Club
  • Freemasons

Marriages

  • Bettina Brown, 15 February 1935, St Giles Church, Oxford, England 
  • Nancy Home, 24 July 1993, Sydney  

Children with Bettina Brown

  • Joanna (1937)
  • Michael (1938)
  • Robin (1941)

Died

19 May 2002, Darlinghurst, New South Wales

Honours

  • Privy Councillor (1968)
  • Order of the Companions of Honour (CH; 1971)
  • Knight Grand Cross, Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG; 1977)

Partner during office

Name

Bettina Edith Gorton

Previous name

Bettina Edith Brown

Born

c.1916 Maine, United States

Died

2 October 1983, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Political profile

Terms as Prime Minister

10 January 1968 to 10 March 1971

Terms as Member of Parliament

  • Senate: 22 February 1950 to 1 February 1968 (Victoria)
  • House of Representatives: 1 March 1968 to 13 December 1975 (Higgins)

Portfolios

  • Navy: 10 December 1958 to 18 December 1963
  • External Affairs: 23 March 1960 to 18 December 1963
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation: 16 February 1962 to 18 December 1963
  • Interior: 18 December 1963 to 4 March 1964
  • Works: 18 December 1963 to 28 February 1967
  • Commonwealth Activities in Education and Research: 18 December 1963 to 14 December 1966
  • Education and Science: 14 December 1966 to 28 February 1968
  • Defence: 10 March to 13 August 1971

Political memberships

  • Country Party (until 1949)
  • Liberal Country Party (March 1949 to December 1949)
  • Liberal Party of Australia (December 1949 to 24 May 1975 and 1993 to 2002)
    • federal parliamentary leader (9 January 1968 to 10 March 1971)

In this section: John Gorton

  • 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 John McEwen.

John McEwen

1967–1968

Portrait of William McMahon.

William McMahon

1971–1972

Portrait of Gough Whitlam.

Gough Whitlam

1972–1975

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
  • Instagram Instagram
  • X X
  • Linkedin LinkedIn
  • YouTube YouTube

Subscribe to our newsletter

Site map

  • Contact us

    • Contact form
  • 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

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

    • What we do
    • Our organisation
    • Our services
    • Our history
    • Partnerships
    • Work for us
    • ABN: 36 889 228 992
National Archives of Australia
  • Privacy
  • Freedom of information
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
National Archives of Australia