Robert Menzies was destined for greatness

“Note his name, for seldom has any politician visited this country and inspired such unanimity of opinion,” wrote London newspaper columnist Atticus in June, 1936.

PIRATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 1939 : Prime minister Robert Menzies declares war on Germany during 03/09/39 radio broadcast after Britain had declared war on Germany. Pic courtesy of Australian War Memorial. Australia's First Century Historical P/

“Note his name, for seldom has any politician visited this country and inspired such unanimity of opinion,” wrote London newspaper columnist Atticus in June, 1936. “Here is a man of such qualities and gifts that no one can set a limit to the possibilities of his career.”

The object of Atticus’ admiration was Australian attorney-general Robert Menzies, who had addressed Whitehall on trade sanctions. Menzies’ career tested political limits from 1928 to establish two political parties, including the Liberal Party, which remained synonymous with him in his record-breaking prime ministership from 1949-66.

Robert Gordon Menzies was born at Jeparit in western Victoria, the fourth child of shopkeepers James and Kate, on December 20, 1894. James, who was twice Dimboola Shire Council president, was elected to Victorian parliament in 1909. Menzies’ maternal grandfather John Sampson was a union leader and Labor supporter, while uncle Sydney Sampson was federal member for Wimmera.

Menzies boarded in Ballarat with his grandmother to attend the upper sixth “scholarship” class at Humffray Street state school. He topped the Victorian scholarship examination in 1907 and attended Grenville College, Ballarat.

When the family moved to Melbourne he enrolled at Wesley College where he topped English and history to earn a scholarship to the University of Melbourne. From 1913 he won prizes in history, jurisprudence and law while serving as president of the Students’ Representative and editing the university magazine. He graduated with first-class honours in his Bachelor of Laws and was awarded a Masters in 1918.

As a patriotic supporter of WWI and advocate of conscription for overseas service, Menzies trained part-time with Melbourne University Rifles from 1915 but did not enlist for overseas service. While his elder brothers Les and Frank served with the AIF, supporters argue his family wanted Menzies at home.

He was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1918 and specialised in constitutional law. His first High Court appearance came in 1919, when a senior counsel fell ill. He won the case but secured his reputation in 1920 as sole advocate before the High Court for the Amalgamated Society of Engineers who wanted a commonwealth industrial award for state government employees, challenging commonwealth versus state rights. Menzies’ arguments persuaded the judges to hand down a landmark ruling.

On the strength of his victory, Menzies married Pattie Leckie, daughter of Victorian and federal politician John Leckie, in September 1920.

Nationalist prime minister Stanley Bruce’s 1926 referendum lured Menzies to politics. Concerned by waterfront unrest, Bruce wanted the Commonwealth Arbitration Court to deal with all industrial disputes. Menzies was convinced this would increase industrial unrest.

From 1927 he joined the Nationalists, an amalgam of disgruntled former Labor and Commonwealth Liberal Party members. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 1928.

Objecting to a political deal, he resigned to win a Legislative Assembly seat in 1929 and, from 1930, with influential business friends he helped Labor acting-treasurer Joe Lyons raise £28 million to meet Australian loan obligations.

With fellow politician Wilfrid Kent Hughes, he formed the Young Nationals, the foundation of the United Australia Party. They persuaded Lyons to leave Labor to head the UAP and were elected in 1931. Menzies was elected for the federal seat of Kooyong in 1934 on the promise Lyons would step down as UAP leader and prime minister in his favour.

His unyielding stand against waterside workers who refused to load scrap iron bound for Japan in 1938, fearing it would be used for armaments, earned him the nickname “pig-iron Bob”.

As the UAP faced electoral defeat, Menzies was no longer favoured as leader. When Lyons died suddenly, Menzies won a leadership ballot but Country Party leader Earle Page refused to serve with him in a coalition. Menzies was sworn in as UAP prime minister on April 26, 1939, but lost support while visiting England in 1941 and without a workable majority in a bipartisan war cabinet, he resigned as leader.

“Humiliated”, he led a wartime opposition and in 1944 called a meeting in Canberra of 80 men and women from 18 non-Labor political organisations. Menzies proposed they unite to present a strong alternative government. On October 16, 1944, the Liberal Party was established. In 1949 Menzies led it to office for the first of seven terms.

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