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Sir Robert Menzies

Posted in 1966

  • Sir Robert and Dame Pattie Menzies leave the LodgeRetires in January after a term of 16 continuous years as Prime Minister. It is the first time an Australian Prime Minister has resigned while in office.

TRANSCRIPT

SIR ROBERT MENZIES ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT:

"I couldn't see myself at 72 after, by that time, 17 years of prime ministership, I couldn't see myself saying to the people of Australia, I want you to give me another term."

† Retirement announcement

  • Scholar-in-Residence at University of Virginia, USA: gives a series of seven lectures which are later published as "Central Power in the Australian Commonwealth". The lectures later became a model for the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Trust's visiting fellowship scheme to the University of Virginia. Fellows included Sir Zelman Cowen, Malcolm Fraser, Sir Harry Gibbs, Sir Ninian Stephen and Professor D W Greig.