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
  • 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
  • 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 William McMahon.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Explore the collection
  3. Australia's prime ministers
  4. William McMahon
  5. William McMahon: timeline

William McMahon: timeline

William McMahon was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1971 to 1972.

On this page

  • 1940 to 1949
  • 1960 to 1969
  • 1970 to 1979
  • 1980 to 1989

1940 to 1949

10 Dec 1949: First elected to Federal Parliament

McMahon was elected as Member of Parliament for the seat of Lowe (NSW), in the 19th federal election.

1960 to 1969

26 Jan 1966: Treasurer

After Menzies retirement, McMahon was elected deputy party leader under Harold Holt. He served as Treasurer in the Holt, Gorton and McEwen governments until November 1969, when he was appointed Minister for External Affairs.

1970 to 1979

10 Mar 1971: 20th Prime Minister

After defeating John Gorton in a Liberal Party leadership ballot, William McMahon was sworn in as prime minister.

24 May 1971: Being counted

Senator Neville Bonner became the first Indigenous parliamentarian. He was nominated by the Queensland Liberal Party for a vacant Senate seat. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were included in the national census for the first time in 1971, after the 1967 amendment to the Constitution.

18 Aug 1971: Vietnam War toll

McMahon announced the final withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam. By the time the last men had returned home in 1972, over 46,000 Australian personnel had served in Vietnam, with 3000 wounded and 500 dead.

2 Nov 1971: Dinner at the White House

At an official dinner with President and Mrs Nixon at the White House, the prime ministerial couple attracted international attention. Television and magazines relayed pictures of Sonia McMahon's diplomatically daring dress.

26 Jan 1972: A tent embassy

First Australians set up a tent 'embassy' in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Although police removed it several times, it remained until February 1975. A 2nd tent embassy, opened on the same site in January 1992, still stands in front of Old Parliament House.

2 Dec 1972: 28th federal election

McMahon's Coalition government was defeated. Campaigning on the theme 'It's time', Gough Whitlam led the Labor Party to victory after 23 years of Liberal-Country Party government.

5 Dec 1972: Left office

Following the government's electoral defeat, McMahon resigned as prime minister. Gough Whitlam was sworn in later that day.

1980 to 1989

4 Jan 1982: Left Parliament

McMahon remained in Federal Parliament for 10 years after he lost office in December 1972. He was an Opposition backbencher from 1972 to 1975, and then a backbencher in the Coalition government of Malcolm Fraser and Doug Anthony. He retired from Parliament in 1982.

31 Mar 1988: Death

After a long illness, McMahon died at St Luke's Hospital, Sydney, aged 80.

In this section: William McMahon

  • 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 Gorton.

John Gorton

1968–1971

Portrait of Gough Whitlam.

Gough Whitlam

1972–1975

Portrait of Malcolm Fraser.

Malcolm Fraser

1975–1983

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

The 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