Spouse of the prime minister of Australia

Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia
	Currently in role; Jenny Morrison; Since August 24, 2018
Residence	The Lodge (Primary); Kirribilli House (Secondary)
Inaugural holder	Jane Barton
Formation	1 January 1901

The Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia is generally a high-profile individual, and assists the prime minister with his or her ceremonial duties as well as performing various other functions. The wife of the current prime minister is Jenny Morrison.

Dame Mary Hughes and Dame Enid Lyons (pictured together in 1955) are among the longest-serving prime minister's wives, both holding the position for more than seven years.

With a few exceptions, the prime minister's spouse has been a public figure and the subject of media interest. Most have used the position to promote charitable causes. By convention, the spouse of the prime minister serves as the host or hostess of The Lodge and Kirribilli House, the official residences of the prime minister. He or she also assists the prime minister in welcoming foreign dignitaries to Parliament House and various other locations during ceremonial events. However, the position is unpaid and there are no official responsibilities.

The prime minister is often assisted by his or her spouse when campaigning at elections. However, only two prime minister's spouses have held public office in their own right – Enid Lyons became the first woman elected to the House of Representatives several years after her husband's death in office, while Lucy Turnbull served as Lord Mayor of Sydney over a decade before her husband became prime minister. Ethel Page held senior offices in the organisational wing of the Country Party.

All prime ministers except John McEwen and Julia Gillard were married for the duration of their term in office. McEwen was a widower during his short term, while Gillard had a domestic partner, Tim Mathieson. Until relatively recently it was uncommon for the spouse of a prime minister to have their own career. Zara Holt, a fashion designer, was the first to continue her career during her husband's term in office, and reputedly earned more money than him. Other businesswomen to hold the position have included Thérèse Rein, who ran an employment services company, and Margie Abbott, who ran a childcare centre. Bettina Gorton was an academic who lectured part-time at the Australian National University.

Role

The Prime Minister's spouse has no official duties. Some earlier spouses stayed mainly at home and took little part in public life.[1] Although a Prime Minister's wife may be unofficially referred to as Australia's "first lady",[lower-alpha 1] a spouse does not receive a staff or official budget.[5]

However, most recent Prime Ministers' spouses have been involved in charities or community organisations, working to raise public awareness, funds, and support for a range of causes. They generally assist their partners in political campaigns, and participate in official duties that come with the position, such as hosting foreign dignitaries, and, in particular, entertaining the spouses of dignitaries; accompanying the Prime Ministers on national and international trips; attending conferences and functions; and speaking in public, particularly in the Prime Minister's constituency.[6] They have attended the opening of Parliament; hosted visitors at The Lodge and Kirribilli House; visited Buckingham Palace, the White House, or the Japanese Imperial Palace; and been present at royal coronations and conferences.[6]

Others were initially preoccupied with rearing children, most notably Dame Enid Lyons (1932–39), who had 12 children (one died in infancy). In 1943, four years after her husband's death in office, she was the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. She was a junior minister in the Menzies Government from 1949 to 1951.

Official recognition

Some Prime Ministers' spouses have received official recognition for their services to the community:

Dame Flora Reid, Dame Mary Cook, Dame Mary Hughes, Dame Enid Lyons, Dame Pattie Menzies and Dame Zara Holt were given damehoods
Pattie Deakin accepted the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1934, to be announced in the New Year's Honours of 1935; she died two days before the announcement[7][8]
Margaret Whitlam, Tamie Fraser and Hazel Hawke were made Officers of the Order of Australia. Lucy Turnbull was appointed an Officer before her husband became Prime Minister.

Tamie Fraser was the first spouse of a Prime Minister to be provided with an official secretary for dealing with her correspondence.[9]

List of spouses

No.	Portrait	Spouse (Maiden name)	Tenure	Length of tenure	Prime Minister
1		Jane "Jeanie" Barton (née Ross) 11 June 1851 – 23 March 1938 (aged 86)	1 January 1901 – 24 September 1903	2 years, 8 months and 23 days	Barton m. 1877
2		Elizabeth Martha Ann "Pattie" Deakin (née Browne) 1 January 1863 – 30 December 1934 (aged 71)	24 September 1903 – 27 April 1904	7 months and 3 days	Deakin m. 1882
3		Ada Jane Watson (née Low) 4 February 1855 – 19 July 1921 (aged 60)	27 April 1904 – 18 August 1904	3 months and 22 days	Watson m. 1889
4		Florence Ann "Flora" Reid (née Brumby) 10 November 1876 – 1 September 1950 (aged 82)	18 August 1904 – 5 July 1905	10 months and 17 days	Reid m. 1891
(2)		Elizabeth Martha Ann "Pattie" Deakin (née Browne) 1 January 1863 – 30 December 1934 (aged 71)	5 July 1905 – 13 November 1908	3 years, 4 months and 8 days	Deakin m. 1882
5		Margaret Jane Fisher (née Irvine) 1874 – 15 June 1958 (aged 83–84)	13 November 1908 – 2 June 1909	6 months and 20 days	Fisher m. 1901
(2)		Elizabeth Martha Ann "Pattie" Deakin (née Browne) 1 January 1863 – 30 December 1934 (aged 71)	2 June 1909 – 29 April 1910	10 months and 27 days	Deakin m. 1882
(5)		Margaret Jane Fisher (née Irvine) 1874 – 15 June 1958 (aged 83–84)	29 April 1910 – 24 June 1913	3 years, 1 month and 26 days	Fisher m. 1901
6		Mary Cook (née Turner) 1863 – 24 September 1950 (aged 86–87)	24 June 1913 – 17 September 1914	1 year, 2 months and 24 days	Cook m. 1885
(5)		Margaret Jane Fisher (née Irvine) 1874 – 15 June 1958 (aged 83–84)	17 September 1914 – 27 October 1915	1 year, 1 month and 10 days	Fisher m. 1901
7		Mary Ethel Hughes (née Campbell) 6 June 1874 – 2 April 1958 (aged 83)	27 October 1915 – 9 February 1923	7 years, 3 months and 13 days	Hughes m. 1911
8		Ethel Dunlop Bruce (née Anderson) 25 May 1879 – 16 March 1967 (aged 88)	9 February 1923 – 22 March 1929	6 years, 1 month and 13 days	Bruce m. 1913
9		Sarah Maria Scullin (née McNamara) 21 April 1880 – 31 May 1962 (aged 82)	22 March 1929 – 6 January 1932	2 years, 9 months and 15 days	Scullin m. 1907
10		Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (née Burnell) GBE 19 July 1897 – 2 September 1981 (aged 84)	6 January 1932 – 7 April 1939	7 years, 3 months and 1 day	Lyons m. 1915
11		Ethel Ester Page (née Blunt) 20 September 1875 – 26 May 1958 (aged 82)	7 April 1939 – 26 April 1939	19 days	Page m. 1906
12		Pattie Maie Menzies (née Leckie) 2 March 1899 – 30 August 1995 (aged 96)	26 April 1939 – 29 August 1941	2 years, 4 months and 3 days	Menzies m. 1920
13		Ilma Nita Fadden (née Thornber) 1895 – 14 May 1987 (aged 91–92)	29 August 1941 – 7 October 1941	1 month and 8 days	Fadden m. 1916
14		Elsie Curtin (née Needham) 4 October 1890 – 24 June 1975 (aged 84)	7 October 1941 – 5 July 1945	3 years, 8 months and 28 days	Curtin m. 1921
15		Veronica "Vera" Forde (née O'Reilly) 31 December 1894 – 9 November 1967 (aged 72)	5 July 1945 – 13 July 1945	8 days	Forde m. 1925
16		Elizabeth Gibson "Lizzie" Chifley (née McKenzie) 1 August 1886 – 9 September 1962 (aged 76)	13 July 1945 – 19 December 1949	4 years, 5 months and 6 days	Chifley m. 1914
(12)		Dame Pattie Maie Menzies (née Leckie) GBE 2 March 1899 – 30 August 1995 (aged 96)	19 December 1949 – 26 January 1966	16 years, 1 month and 7 days	Menzies m. 1920
17		Zara Kate Holt (née Dickins) 10 March 1909 – 14 June 1989 (aged 80)	26 January 1966 – 17 December 1967	1 year, 10 months and 21 days	Holt m. 1947
	01.1 Vacant		17 December 1967 – 10 January 1968	24 days	McEwen Widower
18		Bettina Edith Gorton (née Brown) 23 June 1915 – 2 October 1983 (aged 68)	10 January 1968 – 10 March 1971	3 years and 2 months	Gorton m. 1935
19		Sonia Rachel McMahon (née Hopkins) 1 August 1932 – 2 April 2010 (aged 77)	10 March 1971 – 5 December 1972	1 year, 8 months and 25 days	McMahon m. 1965
20		Margaret Elaine Whitlam, (née Dovey) 19 November 1919 – 17 March 2012 (aged 92)	5 December 1972 – 11 November 1975	2 years, 11 months and 6 days	Whitlam m. 1942
21		Tamara Margaret "Tamie" Fraser (née Beggs) 28 February 1936 (aged 84)	11 November 1975 – 5 March 1983	7 years, 3 months and 22 days	Fraser m. 1956
22		Hazel Susan Hawke (née Masterson) 20 July 1929 – 23 May 2013 (aged 83)	5 March 1983 – 20 December 1991	8 years, 9 months and 15 days	Hawke m. 1956
23		Anna Johanna Maria "Annita" Keating (née van Iersel) 5 October 1948 (aged 72)	20 December 1991 – 11 March 1996	4 years, 2 months and 20 days	Keating m. 1975
24		Janette Howard (née Parker) 11 August 1944 (aged 76)	11 March 1996 – 3 December 2007	11 years, 8 months and 22 days	Howard m. 1971
25		Thérèse Rein 17 July 1958 (aged 62)	3 December 2007 – 24 June 2010	2 years, 6 months and 21 days	Rudd m. 1981
26		Timothy Raymond "Tim" Mathieson 1957 (aged 63–64)	24 June 2010 – 27 June 2013	3 years and 3 days	Gillard domestic partner
(25)		Thérèse Rein 17 July 1958 (aged 62)	27 June 2013 – 18 September 2013	2 months and 22 days	Rudd m. 1981
27		Margaret Veronica "Margie" Abbott (née Aitken) 1 February 1958 (aged 62)	18 September 2013 – 15 September 2015	1 year, 11 months and 28 days	Abbott m. 1988
28		Lucinda Mary "Lucy" Turnbull (née Hughes) AO 30 March 1958 (aged 62)	15 September 2015 – 24 August 2018	2 years, 11 months and 9 days	Turnbull m. 1980
29		Jennifer "Jenny" Morrison (née Warren) 8 January 1968 (aged 53)	24 August 2018 – Incumbent	2 years, 5 months and 2 days*	Morrison m. 1989

* Incumbent's length of tenure last updated: 26 January 2021.

Living former spouses

There are currently seven living spouses of former prime ministers of Australia:

Spouse	Tenure	Date of birth	Age (longevity)
Tamara Margaret "Tamie" Fraser	1975–1983	(1936-02-28)28 February 1936	84 years, 333 days (31,014 days)
Anna Johanna Maria "Annita" Keating	1991–1996	(1948-10-05)5 October 1948	72 years, 113 days (26,411 days)
Janette Howard	1996–2007	(1944-08-11)11 August 1944	76 years, 168 days (27,927 days)
Thérèse Rein	2007–2010, 2013	(1958-07-17)17 July 1958	62 years, 193 days (22,839 days)
Timothy Raymond "Tim" Mathieson	2010–2013	1957	63 years, 26 days to 64 years, 15 days (23037 days to 23391 days)
Margaret Veronica "Margie" Abbott	2013–2015	(1958-02-01)1 February 1958	62 years, 360 days (23,005 days)
Lucinda Mary "Lucy" Turnbull	2015–2018	(1958-03-30)30 March 1958	62 years, 302 days (22,948 days)

[10]

The most recent spouse of an Australian prime minister to die was Hazel Hawke (ex-wife of Bob Hawke), on 23 May 2013.[11]

Others

A number of prime ministers have remarried after leaving office or had marriages that ended before taking office.

Billy Hughes was in a common-law marriage with Elizabeth Cutts from approximately 1890 to her death in 1906. He had six children with her, and also raised her son from a previous relationship.
Chris Watson married Antonia Dowlan in 1925, following the death of his first wife Ada in 1921. They had one daughter together.
Earle Page married Jean Thomas in 1959, following the death of his first wife Ethel in 1958. She had previously been his personal secretary.
John McEwen married Annie McLeod in 1921; she died in 1967, ten months before he became prime minister. He remarried in 1968 to Mary Byrne, who had previously been his personal secretary.
John Gorton married Nancy Home in 1993, following the death of his first wife Bettina in 1983.
Bob Hawke married Blanche d'Alpuget in 1996, after divorcing his first wife Hazel in 1994. D'Alpuget had previously been his biographer.

Notes

The only male (as of March 2020), Tim Mathieson, was sometimes referred to as the "first bloke".[2][3][4]

References

"Elizabeth Chifley". Australia's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
Harris, Talek (25 June 2010). "Beer-swilling hairdresser is Australia's 'First Bloke'". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
"First Bloke Tim Mathieson apologises for prostate joke 'in poor taste'". The Australian. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
Walsh, Kerry-Anne; Benns, Matthew (27 June 2010). "First bloke is a man's man". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
Visentin, Lisa (25 August 2018). "Jenny Morrison, Australia's new first lady". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
"National Hostess". Mrs Prime Minister—Public Image, Private Lives: Travelling exhibition. Old Parliament House (Commonwealth of Australia: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts). Retrieved 30 July 2008.
Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 27 June 2013
National Archives of Australia, Australia’s Prime Ministers: Pattie Deakin. Retrieved 27 June 2013
"Tamie Fraser". Australia's Prime Ministers. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
Updated daily according to UTC.
Carolyn Webb and Catherine Chisholm, The Age, 23 May 2013. "Hazel Hawke dies after battle with dementia"

Lists of Prime Ministers of Australia
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