About the record

This is a black-and-white photograph of the Rt Hon. Joseph Lyons, Australia's tenth Prime Minister. It is an official portrait. The photograph shows him wearing a white shirt with a tie and waistcoat. He is facing towards the camera. As the tenth Prime Minister, Lyons took office in 1932 and stayed there for seven years, just 10 days short of the record term held by WM Hughes up until that point. Lyons was the first Prime Minister to die in office. Some of his achievements include being the first Prime Minister to use an aeroplane to stay in contact with his far-flung constituency. However, it was not a plane crash, but a heart attack while driving that lead to his demise. Information about Lyons' life before and during office can be found by clicking the links below.

Educational value

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

• Information about Joseph Lyons before and during his term as Prime Minister
• You can use the research guide to help you find records in our online database RecordSearch