145 Facts About Harold Holt

Harold Edward Holt was an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the 17th prime minister of Australia, from 1966 until his disappearance and presumed death in 1967, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Harold Holt was first elected to the House of Representatives at the age of 27, becoming a member of parliament for the division of Fawkner at a by-election in 1935.

Harold Holt was influential as Minister for Labour and National Service, where he handled several industrial relations disputes.

Harold Holt was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1956, and after the 1958 election replaced Arthur Fadden as Treasurer.

Harold Holt oversaw the creation of the Reserve Bank of Australia and the decimal Australian dollar, but was blamed for a credit crunch that almost cost the Coalition the 1961 election.

However, the economy soon rebounded and Harold Holt retained his place as Menzies' heir apparent.

Harold Holt became prime minister in January 1966, elected unopposed as Liberal leader following Menzies' retirement.

Harold Holt fought a general election later that year, winning a landslide victory.

The Harold Holt government continued the dismantling of the White Australia policy, amended the constitution to give the federal government responsibility for indigenous affairs, and took Australia out of the sterling area.

Harold Holt promoted greater engagement with Asia and the Pacific, and made visits to a number of East Asian countries.

Harold Holt's government expanded Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, and maintained close ties with the United States under President Lyndon B Johnson.

In December 1967, Harold Holt disappeared while swimming in rough conditions at Cheviot Beach, Victoria.

Harold Holt was presumed dead, although his body was never recovered; his disappearance spawned a number of conspiracy theories.

Harold Holt was the third Australian prime minister to die in office.

Harold Holt was succeeded by Country Party leader John McEwen on an interim basis and then by John Gorton.

Harold Holt's death was commemorated in a number of ways, among them by the establishment of the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in Melbourne.

Harold Holt was born on 5 August 1908 at his parents' home in Stanmore, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney.

Harold Holt was the first of two sons born to Olive May and Thomas James Holt; his younger brother Clifford was born in 1910.

Harold Holt's parents had married seven months before his birth, in January 1908.

On his father's side, Harold Holt was descended from James Harold Holt, a cobbler from Birmingham, England, who arrived in New South Wales in 1829.

Holt's father trained as a schoolteacher in Sydney and when Harold was born, worked as a physical education teacher at the Cleveland Street School in Surry Hills.

Harold Holt's mother was born in Eudunda, South Australia, and had Cornish, English, German, and Irish ancestry; her sister was the actress Vera Pearce.

In 1914, Harold Holt's parents moved to Adelaide, where his father became the licensee of a hotel in Payneham.

In late 1916, Harold Holt was sent to live with grandparents in the country, where he briefly attended the Nubba State School.

Harold Holt returned to Sydney the following year, and for three years was enrolled at Abbotsholme College, a private school in Killara; his parents separated around that time.

Harold Holt was a popular and talented student, winning a scholarship in his final year and graduating second in his class.

Harold Holt was 16 at the time, and was unable to attend the funeral.

In 1927, Harold Holt began studying law at the University of Melbourne, living at Queen's College on a scholarship.

Harold Holt represented the university in cricket and football, and was active in various student organisations, serving as president of the Law Students' Society and of the Queen's College social club.

Harold Holt won prizes for oratory and essay-writing, and was a member of the inter-university debating team.

Harold Holt graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1930.

Harold Holt was admitted to the Victorian Bar in late 1932, and opened his own legal practice the following year.

However, clients during the Depression were scarce and frequently underpaid, so Harold Holt lived in a boardinghouse and often relied upon the hospitality of friends.

In 1933, Harold Holt joined the Young Nationalists, the youth wing of the United Australia Party.

Harold Holt cultivated a friendship with Mabel Brookes, and through Brookes became acquainted with senior members of the influential Australian Women's National League.

Harold Holt secured the patronage of Robert Menzies, with whom he shared a similar background and political views.

At the 1934 federal election, Harold Holt stood for the UAP in the Division of Yarra.

Harold Holt lost heavily, as was expected, but was praised for his campaigning.

Harold Holt was eventually elected to parliament on his third attempt, winning a federal by-election for the seat of Fawkner in August 1935; his predecessor, George Maxwell, had died in office.

Harold Holt won UAP preselection against five other candidates, a victory which Smith's Weekly attributed to his "political godmothers" in the AWNL.

Harold Holt was twenty-seven years old when he entered parliament, making him its youngest member.

Harold Holt kept a relatively low profile in his first few years, but spoke on a wide range of topics.

Harold Holt was given responsibility for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and acted for periods as Minister for Trade and Customs and Minister for Civil Aviation and Air while the incumbents were overseas.

Harold Holt's replacement was Arthur Fadden, another future prime minister.

Harold Holt enlisted in the Militia in February 1939, joining a part-time artillery unit for businessmen and professionals.

Harold Holt was given indefinite leave during his ministerial service.

In May 1940, without resigning his seat, Harold Holt enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force with the intent of becoming a full-time soldier.

Harold Holt had been offered a commission as an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, but declined due to his lack of experience.

Harold Holt was sent to Puckapunyal for training, and expected to be posted to North Africa or Palestine.

Harold Holt was given leave from the army to campaign, and won re-election with a large majority.

Harold Holt was placed in charge of the new Department of Labour and National Service, which took over most of the responsibilities of the previous Department of Industry.

Harold Holt became a member of the bipartisan Advisory War Council, although he personally favoured the establishment of a national unity government with the Labor Party.

Harold Holt met with union leaders and employer groups, and secured their agreement to a streamlining of the arbitration process while the war was underway.

Harold Holt had been made Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research, which gave him responsibility for the CSIR and its wartime efforts.

When leadership troubles hit the Coalition later in the year, Harold Holt initially supported Menzies.

Menzies felt he had been betrayed, but forgave Harold Holt and accepted his assurances that he had been acting in the best interests of the country.

Harold Holt retained his portfolios in the Fadden government, which lasted only 40 days before being defeated on a confidence motion in October 1941.

Harold Holt was criticised by some for not re-joining the army, and at the 1943 election was opposed by Brigadier William Cremor, whose campaign was funded by Sydney businessmen.

Harold Holt lost a significant portion of his primary vote, but suffered only a small swing on the two-party-preferred count.

Menzies returned as leader of the UAP in September 1943, and Harold Holt was initially a candidate for the deputy leadership; he withdrew once former prime minister Billy Hughes entered the race.

Harold Holt was in favour of the creation of the Liberal Party, but played little role in the practical aspects of its establishment.

Harold Holt became an official member of the new party in February 1945.

Harold Holt transferred to Higgins, one of several new seats created in the 1949 redistribution.

Harold Holt was appointed to the prestigious portfolios of Minister for Labour and National Service and Minister for Immigration, by which time he was being touted in the press as a "certain successor to Menzies and a potential Prime Minister".

In Immigration, Harold Holt continued and expanded the massive immigration programme initiated by his ALP predecessor, Arthur Calwell.

Harold Holt reversed the decision, allowing Gamboa to settle in Australia permanently.

Harold Holt excelled in the Labour portfolio and has been described as one of the best Labour ministers since Federation.

Harold Holt had ministerial responsibility for the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.

Harold Holt fostered greater collaboration between the government, the courts, employers and trade unions.

Harold Holt enjoyed good relationships with union leaders like Albert Monk, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions; and Jim Healy, leader of the radical Waterside Workers Federation;and he gained a reputation for tolerance, restraint and a willingness to compromise, although his controversial decision to use troops to take control of cargo facilities during a waterside dispute in Bowen, Queensland in September 1953 provoked bitter criticism.

Harold Holt served on numerous committees and overseas delegations, he was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1953, and in 1954 he was named one of Australia's six best-dressed men.

In December 1958, following the retirement of Arthur Fadden, Harold Holt succeeded him as Treasurer.

Harold Holt had little knowledge or interest in economics, but the job cemented his position as Menzies' likely successor.

The economy Harold Holt inherited was growing strongly, aided by the opening of new iron ore mines.

Harold Holt was reluctant to act, but in November 1960 introduced a deflationary package of tax changes.

Harold Holt reluctantly agreed to an interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank.

In later budgets, Harold Holt retreated to his Queensland holiday home while it was being prepared.

Harold Holt said that the 1965 budget "has had the best reception yet of any in the series I have presented".

Harold Holt was sworn in as prime minister on 26 January 1966, following the retirement of Robert Menzies six days earlier.

Harold Holt won the leadership election unopposed, with William McMahon elected as his deputy.

Harold Holt was the first Australian prime minister born in the 20th century and the first born after federation.

Harold Holt was almost fourteen years younger than his predecessor, but, at the age of 57, was still the fourth-oldest man to assume the office.

Harold Holt had been an MP for over 30 years before becoming prime minister, still the longest wait for any non-caretaker Prime Minister.

Stylistically, Harold Holt was more informal and contemporary than Menzies, and his wife accompanied him into the political spotlight.

Harold Holt gave the media an unprecedented level of access, and was the first prime minister to conduct regular press conferences and grant regular television interviews.

The only new government department created during Harold Holt's tenure was the Department of Education and Science, established in December 1966, which was the first federal department specific to either of those areas.

On 26 November 1966, Harold Holt fought his first and only general election as prime minister, winning a somewhat unexpected landslide victory.

Harold Holt received little credit for the Coalition's election victory, even from within his own party.

Calwell was far less telegenic than his opponent, and was seen as gruff and antagonistic where Harold Holt was suave and easy-going.

Alan Reid asserts that Harold Holt was being increasingly criticised within the party in the months before his death, that he was perceived as being "vague, imprecise and evasive" and "nice to the point that his essential decency was viewed as weakness".

Harold Holt announced that the Australian government would not follow suit, effectively withdrawing Australia from the sterling area.

McEwen went as far as to issue a public statement criticising the decision, which Harold Holt considered a breach of cabinet solidarity.

Harold Holt maintained that "every country reserves to itself the right to decide what the composition of its people shall be", and promised "a community life free from serious minority and racial problems".

Harold Holt was careful to frame his changes as simply a modification of existing policy, in order to avoid alienating organised labour.

However, Harold Holt was less circumspect outside Australia, telling British journalists that no White Australia policy existed and ordering Australian embassies to promote the changes to Asian governments and media outlets.

In 1967, the Harold Holt government amended the constitution to alter section 51 and remove section 127.

Harold Holt personally considered the amendments unnecessary and mostly symbolic, but thought they would be well received by the international community.

Harold Holt came to regard the referendum as indicative of a shift in the national mood.

Indigenous academic Gary Foley has said that Harold Holt's death was a setback for Aboriginal people, as his successors did not show the same commitment to the framework that he established.

Harold Holt did make one other significant legal reform, albeit one that did not require a constitutional amendment.

In November 1967, in one of his last major policy statements, Harold Holt announced the establishment of the National Gallery of Australia and the Australia Council for the Arts.

Harold Holt said it would "add significantly to the cultural life of Australia and the national capital".

Harold Holt believed it was his responsibility as prime minister "to reflect the modern Australia to my fellow countrymen, to our allies and the outside world at large".

Harold Holt said that the "great central fact of modern history" was "the tremendous power conflict between the communist world and the free world".

Harold Holt was a strong believer in the domino theory and containment, holding that communism had to be fought wherever it occurred in order to prevent it spreading to neighbouring countries.

Harold Holt toured Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, and Taiwan in March and April 1967, and had planned to visit Burma, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Pakistan in 1968.

Harold Holt was a strong supporter of Australian involvement in the war, which had begun in 1962, and accused its critics of adopting a "Lotus Land" attitude.

Harold Holt held that "unless there is security for all small nations, there cannot be security for any small nation".

In March 1966, Harold Holt announced that the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, would be withdrawn and replaced by the 1st Australian Task Force, a self-contained brigade-sized unit based at Nui Dat.

Harold Holt "never deviated from his whole-hearted support for American bombing of North Vietnam and the hope that steadily increasing the number of foreign troops deployed to South Vietnam would lead to military victory and a solution to the crisis".

Harold Holt did not live long enough to see the mass demonstrations experienced by his successors.

Harold Holt believed that "without the American shield most of us who live in Asia and the South Pacific would have a continuing sense of insecurity".

Harold Holt approved the construction of several Earth stations for use by NASA and American intelligence agencies, including Pine Gap, Honeysuckle Creek, and Tidbinbilla.

Harold Holt visited the US twice while in office, in June and July 1966, and on the latter visit was invited to stay at Camp David.

Harold Holt toured five cities, and was greeted by large crowds as well as a number of anti-war demonstrators, who disrupted the presidential motorcade.

On his first visit to the US, Harold Holt made what was widely viewed as a faux pas while delivering a ceremonial address at the White House.

Harold Holt's comments intensified anti-war sentiments among those who were already opposed to the war, but had little electoral impact.

Harold Holt repeatedly lobbied Wilson to maintain a strong British presence "East of Suez", in order to complement American efforts, and in early 1967 received assurances that no reduction was being contemplated.

Harold Holt rejected this outright, and felt that Wilson had deliberately misled him as to his intentions.

Harold Holt responded rashly, questioning the impartiality of the ABC and implying political bias on the part of journalist Mike Willesee, and his statement drew strong protests from both Willesee and the Australian Journalists' Association.

An enraged Harold Holt interrupted St John's speech, in defiance of the parliamentary convention that maiden speeches are heard in silence; his blunder embarrassed the government and further undermined Harold Holt's support in the Liberal Party.

Harold Holt loved the ocean, particularly spearfishing, and had holiday homes at Portsea, Victoria, and Bingil Bay, Queensland.

On 17 December 1967, while Harold Holt was spending the weekend at Portsea, he and four companions decided to drive to Point Nepean to watch sailor Alec Rose pass through The Rip on his solo circumnavigation attempt.

Harold Holt's disappearance sparked "one of the largest search operations in Australian history", but no trace of his body was ever found.

Some have alleged that Harold Holt committed suicide, but those close to him rejected this as uncharacteristic of his personality.

Conspiracy theories have included suggestions that Harold Holt faked his own death, was assassinated by the CIA, or was collected by a submarine so that he could defect to China.

Aged 59 at the time of his death, Harold Holt became the third Australian prime minister to die in office, after Joseph Lyons and John Curtin.

Harold Holt accompanied Fell to India, and then in early 1935 returned to Australia where Holt again proposed marriage.

Harold Holt declined his offer, and married Fell a short time later, going to live with him in Jabalpur.

Harold Holt had entered parliament by that time, and was being profiled as "the most eligible bachelor in parliament".

Tom Holt married Lola in 1936, and their daughter Frances was born in 1940; Tom Holt died in 1945.

Harold Holt had two more children, twins Sam and Andrew, in 1939.

Harold Holt legally adopted Zara's three children, and as young men they changed their surname to his.

Zara Harold Holt was a successful businesswoman, owning a chain of dress shops, and out-earned her husband even as prime minister.

Harold Holt nonetheless made sacrifices for her husband's political career, accompanying him on all but one of his overseas trips, which could last for weeks.

Harold Holt was widowed a second time in 1984, and died in 1989.

Harold Holt was the first Australian Prime Minister born in the twentieth century.

Harold Holt was an enthusiastic sportsman and avid swimmer, in stark contrast to Menzies and the majority of his predecessors and colleagues.

Harold Holt's rhetoric was considered a match to that of new Labor leader Gough Whitlam.

Harold Holt was baptised Anglican, attended Methodist schools, and married with Presbyterian forms, but neither he nor his wife had any interest in religion.

Alick Downer believed that Harold Holt's thoughts "lay in this world not the next".

Harold Holt had a reputation as something of a fatalist, and frequently quoted from Andrew Marvell's carpe diem poem "To His Coy Mistress".

Harold Holt is commemorated by the Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris.

In 1969, a plaque commemorating Harold Holt was bolted to the seafloor off Cheviot Beach after a memorial ceremony.

Harold Holt later married for a third time, to a Liberal party colleague of Holt's, Jeff Bate, and was then known as Dame Zara Bate.