About this record

This is a black-and-white photograph of the Rt Hon. Sir Robert Menzies, Australia's twelfth Prime Minister. It shows him wearing a suit as he poses for his official photograph. As the twelfth Prime Minister, Menzies took office in 1939 for two years and then returned from 1949 to 1966. He is Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, serving a combined total of 18 years. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Robert Menzies presided over the commencement of World War Two, and later the Korean War. He was also responsible for continuing development of Canberra as the National Capital, specifically assigning funding for the creation of Lake Burley Griffin. Information about Menzies' life before, during and after office can be found by clicking the links below.

Educational value

The National Archives has an extensive collection of photographs and documents relating to Robert Menzies. Here are some links to help you get started:

• Information about Robert Menzies before, during and after his term as Prime Minister
• The RecordSearch online database allows searching of the National Archives' collection