1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election
A leadership election in the Liberal Party of Australia, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 9 January 1968. It followed the disappearance and presumed drowning of previous leader Harold Holt, who had been declared dead on 19 December 1967. The contest was won by Senator John Gorton in a party room ballot; he was sworn in as prime minister the following day, replacing caretaker John McEwen.
Image: John Gorton 1968
Image: Paul Hasluck 1960
Image: Les Bury
Image: Billy Snedden
Disappearance of Harold Holt
On 17 December 1967, Harold Holt, the 17th prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming in the sea near Portsea, Victoria. An enormous search operation was mounted in and around Cheviot Beach, but his body was never recovered. Holt was presumed to have died, and his memorial service five days later was attended by many world leaders.
A search party combing Cheviot Beach after Holt's disappearance
Harold Holt on a spearfishing expedition at Portsea, Victoria, in 1966
John McEwen
John Gorton