The 1906 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 12 December 1906. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Protectionist Party minority government led by Prime Minister Alfred Deakin retained government, despite winning the fewest House of Representatives votes and seats of the three parties. Parliamentary support was provided by the Labour Party led by Chris Watson, while the Anti-Socialist Party, led by George Reid, remained in opposition.
Image: George Reid crop
Image: Portrait of Alfred Deakin seated at his desk (cropped)
Image: John Forrest 1909
Joseph Cook
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Sir Joseph Cook was an Australian politician who served as the sixth prime minister of Australia, from 1913 to 1914. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party, having previously been leader of the Anti-Socialist Party from 1908 to 1909. His victory at the 1913 election marked the first time that a centre-right party had won an outright majority at an Australian federal election.
Cook lived in a small terraced house at 86 Newcastle Street for most of his childhood. The building now has a blue plaque commemorating his life.
Cook in 1894
Cook and Alfred Deakin together in 1909