SIR ROBERT GORDON MENZIES – LIBERAL PARTY of AUSTRALIA

12^th Prime Minister – 1939-1941, 1949-1966

It is argued that Robert ‘Bob’ Menzies to date has been the Australian prime minister with the greatest interest in sport particularly cricket, tennis and Australian football. He understood how sport, particularly international sporting contests, was important in maintaining relationships with Britain, the Commonwealth and United States. Also, that sport was a healthy activity and a brief distraction from many of the national and international issues. However, he also had the view that sporting organisations were primarily responsible for their development and government should have limited involvement particularly in terms of funding and their management.

Birth: 20 December 1894, Jeparit, Victoria – Death: 15 May 1978, Melbourne, Victoria

Major Political Appointments

• Victorian Legislative Council for East Yarra, VIC: 2 June 1928 – 11 November 1929
• Victorian Legislative Assembly for Nunawading, VIC: 30 November 1929 – 31 July Attorney-General for Victoria: 19 May 1932 – 24 July 1934
• Deputy Premier of Victoria: 19 May 1932 – 31 July 1934
• Federal Member for Kooyong, VIC: 15 September 1934 – 17 February 1966
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party: 1 October 1935 – 5 July 1945
• Ministries: Attorney-General 12 October 1934 –  20 March 1939, Minister for Industry 12 October 1934 –  20 March 1939,  Treasurer 26 April 1939 – 29 August, Minister for Defence C-ordination 13 November 1939 – 7 October 1941, Minister for Trade and Customs 23 February 1940 – 14 March 1940, Minister for Information  14 March 1940 – 13 December 1940, Minister for Munitions 11 June 1940 – 28 October 1940, Minister for External Affairs 4 February 1960 – 22 December 1961, Minister for Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 22 December 1961 – 16 February 1962
• Cabinet: 12 October 1934 – 20 March 1939, 26 April 1939 – 7 October 1941, 19 December 1949 – 26 January 1966
• Prime Minister:  6 April 1939 – 29 August 1941, 19 December 1949 – 26 January 1966

Background

Menzies was born 20 December 1894 in Jeparit, Victoria. He was the fourth of five children to James Menzies and Kate Sampson. In 1899, he went to the Jeparit single teacher school. At eleven, with his sister, he was sent to live with his paternal grandmother in Ballarat. His two older brothers were already living with here. His first school in Ballarat was Humffray Street State School and between 1908 and 1909, he attended the private school Greville College in Ballarat after winning a scholarship. His family moved to Melbourne in 1910 and he won a scholarship to attend Wesley College.  In 1913, he enrolled at Melbourne Law School after winning a scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws  in 1916 and a Master of Laws  in 1918. Menzies served his compulsory militia service in the Melbourne University Rifles (a part-time militia unit) from 1915 to 1919. After being admitted to the Victorian Bar and the High Court of Australia in 1918, he established his own practice in Melbourne. In 1920, he married Pattie Leckie in Melbourne and they had three children – Kenneth (born 1922), Robert (1974) and Margery (known by Heather 1928).

In 1928, as a Nationalist Party member, he became a member for East Yarra Province in the Victorian Legislative Council. In 1929, he was elected the member for Nunawading in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and was attorney-general and deputy premier from 1932 to 1934. In 1934, he was elected the federal member for Kooyong. As a member of the United Australia Party (UAP) government of Joseph Lyons, he held several ministries – attorney-general and industry (1934 to 1939) and treasurer (1939). Menzies resigned from the Lyons government on 20 March 1939 after it shelved the national insurance plan that was 1937 election commitment.

After the sudden death of Joseph Lyons on 7 April 1939, Menzies replaced caretaker prime minister Earle Page from the Country Party, on 26 April 1939. On 3 September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany due to its invasion of Poland on 1 September and Menzies immediately declared that Australia to be at war in support of Britain. Dissention within the Menzies coalition government and losses to ALP in September 1940 federal election, led Menzies to resign as prime minister on 28 August 1941. Menzies was replaced by the Country’ Party’s Arthur Fadden but he was defeated by the ALP’s John Curtin on 7 October 1941.

In September 1943, Menzies was re-elected UAP leader and became Leader of the Opposition. In October 1944, Menzies backed the formation of the Liberal Party of Australia – combination of the  UAP and 17 other non-Labor groups. Menzies Liberal Party defeated the Chifley government in 1949 federal election, and he became prime minister for the second time on 19 December 1949 and held this position until he resigned on 26 January 1966. As of 2026, he Australia’s longest serving prime minster.

In 1971, Menzies suffered a severe stroke that limited his appearances at sporting and other events.  He died on 15 May 1978 in his home at Malvern, Melbourne.

Menzies second period as prime minister was characterised Australia’s post-war reconstruction and European immigration, the Cold War in Europe, closer relationship with the United States and the involvement in Korean and Vietnam wars. Menzies maintained a lifelong affection to Britain and its institutions and traditions and the value of the Commonwealth.[1]

Sporting Life

Menzies played Australian football and cricket in his youth and in tennis in adulthood. Often on a Saturday and Sunday, he would walk at least ten miles.[2]

The ALP’s Fred Daly asked Menzies how he managed the physical strains of being prime minister and he replied that he found relief and rest relaxing at a cricket, tennis or a football match when he said he could completely forget his worries for the time being.[3]

Menzies sporting life can be looked through the lens of his passionate interest in sport particularly cricket, tennis and Australian football and his government’s support of sport and fitness through the continuance of sport during World War II, the partial financing of the 1956 Olympic Games and 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth and international relationships and the establishment of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Menzies developed many strong personal relationships with leading sportsmen and administrators.

 Cricket

In researching Menzies interest in cricket, the words – passionate, tragic, avid, ardent, patron, enthusiastic, obsessive, connoisseur, devotee, lover, well read, personal relationships, socialising, traditionalist are used frequently. Cricket was his number one sporting love.

Menzies played cricket at primary school whilst at Grenville College, Ballarat. He stated that whilst at Wesley College, he was never selected in the First XI. He realised he was not a good player and turned his interest in the subtleties game. [4] Roy Park, a schoolmate of Menzies and who went to  play first class cricket,  recalled him  reading Shakespeare behind the school practice nets, “so that he could partake of the bard whilst watching Park bat.”[5]

During his life, Menzies frequently attended international, state and local cricket matches in Australia, particularly those played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where he was a trustee.  He was also a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club. He attended many test matches and Sheffield Shield games at the MCG when living in or visiting Melbourne. Whilst prime minister in Canberra, he often watched local games at Manuka Oval. In 1951, he was responsible for establishing the Prime Minister’s XI matches against visiting international teams.

Menzies frequently farewelled the Australian cricket teams for the Ashes series in England. He spoke at the 1930, 1934 and 1938 farewells. In 1938, his speech highlighted the value of the Ashes battle by stating that “In the visit of the Australian cricketers one saw mother and daughter nations setting an example to other nations of the world by testing their prowess on the cricket field instead of by much more dangerous means.”[6] The report of the farewell mentioned that prime minister Joseph Lyons should visit England for meetings that would coincide with the cricket. It was also reported that Menzies “contrived to see something of most of the matches which the Australians played, and to report his impressions to brother Frank and father James.[7]

He travelled to England regularly second stint as prime minister.  Many of these visits were during the English cricket season and he made sure his itinerary involved watching a test match particularly any involving the Australian men’s team. Documented are the reasons for travel and cricket matches attended.

In February 1935, he sailed to England and returned via the United States in September. As federal attorney-general, he was in England with prime minister Lyons to represent Australia at King George V’s Jubilee celebrations.  He watched the England versus South Africa test series – where the later won one test with four drawn. On his return to Australia, he commented that:[8]

Throughout the Test series the spirit of English cricket was decidedly-low, but it reached positively dismal depths in the second Test match at Lord’s when the side played as if the weight of the world were on its shoulders. Among prominent cricket and other personalities in England I found a practically unanimous feeling that Australia’s view on body-line was correct and that’ the sooner the dispute was forgotten in both countries the better for the future and that’ the sooner the dispute was forgotten in both countries the better for the future and spirit of  international cricket.

Menzies was concerned that that bodyline series in 1932-33 was having a detrimental impact on test cricket.

In February 1936, he sailed to England to appear in two Privy Council cases and for official discussions with British ministers and civil servants and returned on 28 July after 4 weeks and 3 days at sea. It was reported that “the most disappointing thing about his trip was that he did not have time to see a ball bowled in England this year”. [9]

In June 1938, he visited England in his role of attorney general to review the Ottawa Trade Agreement. He attended the first test match in Trent Bridge, Nottingham and made a speech critical of the decline British and Australia relations after the British press attacked Australia’s slow batting. He attended the second test at Lord’s in late June. His wrote of his first visit to Lord’s:[10]

I have been at Lords seeing my first Test on that historic ground. I have seen the pavilion and scoreboard, the famous sloping wicket, the press box, the crowd, and C. B. Fry. They are all most interesting because they are all most odd.

I know that in Australia we have been spoiled by grounds committees. We expect too much for our money, but, all the same, it is odd to see a vast, white sightboard at one end of the ground and none at the other. This phenomenon keeps the umpires busy begging elderly gentlemen in front of the pavilion not to move during an over; while I have heard a rumour that one batsman complained that the colour of the M.C.C. tie distracted his attention. And the score board! It would never do for the democrats of the Sydney ‘hill.’

In March 1941, as prime minister Menzies was in England to discuss Australia’s need for assistance in the Pacific battlefront. He visited Old Trafford,  Manchester and a 1942 newspaper report of his visit included:[11]

There was a bomb crater right m the middle of the Test wicket, while the stands and buildings had been wrecked by high explosives. He was handed part of an incendiary bomb which was collected on the Test wicket after a German raid, and asked if he would take it home to Melbourne for presentation to the Melbourne Cricket Club. The piece of shell is now a souvenir in the showcase in the pavilion vestibule at the M.C.G.

This highlighted his continual interest in cricket even though it had ceased being played in England during the war.

In July 1948, Menzies arrived in England as federal opposition leader for a holiday and stated that he “hoped to see some cricket, but was also bringing up to date his ideas on British and world problems, by first-hand information”.[12] Whilst in England, the 1948 Ashes series was being held.  Menzies and Dr Evatt, attorney-general and minister for external affairs, attended a cricket match at East Mosley, Surrey, a historic cricket ground. Six former Test players, Mailey, O’Reilly, Fingleton, Hammond, Bowes and Duckworth, were in the Empire Press side.[13] He attended the fourth Ashes test at Headingley, Leeds.[14] The National Film and Sound Archive maintains a brief home movie taken by Menzies at the Lord’s test where Australia defeated England.[15]

In 1952, he flew to England for Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation on 2nd June. He watched a match between Middlesex and Essex at Lords and lunched with Sir Pelham Warner, English test cricketer and administrator.[16] On 14 June, he witnessed England captain Len Hutton hit a century for Yorkshire against Middlesex at Lords.[17]

In May 1953, he travelled to England to attend Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference (3–9 June).  On 24 May, he attended the Australia v Minor Counties in Trent Bridge, Nottingham. In a newspaper report, his daughter Heather remarked “He adores cricketers. He thinks they are such civilised people.”[18]  On May 25, he attended Lord’s to watch Middlesex and Sussex. He attended the first Ashes test held 11 to16 June at Trent Bridge which finished in a draw.

In June 1956, he travelled to England to attend Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference (27 June–6 July).  He attended the second Ashes test and hosted a dinner for the Australian cricketers at the Savoy Hotel. Newspaper report of his attendance at the test: [19]

Mr Menzies sat in a special box beneath the famous “Father Time” weather vane and among his guests In the box during the day were Sir Donald Bradman and the secretary of the Australian Cricket Board of Control, Mr. Jack Ladward. On the Australian player’s balcony watching play were Australian tennis stars Lew Hoad and Malcolm Anderson, who came to Lord’s from the Queen’s Club tennis tournament in the London suburb of Barons Court, three miles away.

During this visit, a television was installed in the Daimier that was provided by the British government so that he could keep up to date withe Ashes test matches.[20]

In June 1957, he travelled to England for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference (26 June–5 July 1957) and watched the second day of the second test between England and the West Indies at Lord’s. He witnessed Colin Cowdrey scoring 152.

In June 1963, he travelled in England to be inducted on 1 July into the Order of the Thistle at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, the only Australian appointed to the Order, an honour in the gift of the reigning monarch. His intention was to watch opening day’s play in the second test between England and West Indies.

In July 1964, he travelled to England for Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference (8–15 July 1964). Before leaving Australia “Sir Robert joked with Pressmen and denied he had timed his trip to allow him to see the Test cricket. He admitted, however, that he hoped to see two days of the of the third Ashes test at Leeds match.[21]

Menzies was frequently criticised for organising his trips to England to watch cricket. His frequent travel to England was due to Australia’s position in the Commonwealth and its strong connection to Britain. The timing of his trips were determined by organisers of events such as the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference, Queen Elizabeth II coronation and awards. So, this criticism is somewhat unwarranted. He travelled to England numerous times on government business outside the cricket season.

Menzies frequently spoke at dinners, wrote forewords to cricket books and  two major articles in cricket – 1963 Wisden Almanac  and memoir Afternoon Light. These articles detailed his insights into cricket.

Excerpts from Menzies article in 1963 Wisden Almanac titled ‘Cricket – An enduring Art’. [22]

For one of the great things about cricket is that it is an art even more than it is a science. The scientific batsman who hits every ball with precision to its appointed place is a great man to have on your side. He will win matches. He will take a high place in the records. But unless he adds art to science, humanity to skill, his glories will soon fade.

For a great artist is not content to move along the orthodox paths. His daemon possesses him. He must experiment. He must essay the unexpected. He must know his medium, but it must be his servant, not his master.

If the art of cricket is to survive, many people must contribute to the survival. The spectator naturally loves a good swiping innings, with a few sixes thrown in; but he must also have time and intelligence to admire the artistry of non-scoring defence against aggressive and shrewd bowling.

I have no doubt that England-Australia cricket has contributed much to the close association of the two countries in world affairs. There have been, of course, some unhappy experiences, from the 1879 Sydney riot, when Lord Harris’s team played New South Wales, to the celebrated body-line controversy of 1932-3. But such matters were eddies on the surface of a broad and flowing river, which, like the Thames in the famous phrase, is liquid history

Cricket is, as I have said, a great art. It is the mother of great traditions. It dwells in the eye and in the blood. The relative slowness of its tempo induces observation and enables its subtleties to be seen and noted. It has evoked, from writers of talent, a considerable literature.

In Menzies memoir Afternoon Light, he included a chapter titled ‘Cricket – A Diversion’ that reflected on the game, players and events. Menzies incorporated some of his views from the 1963 Wisden Cricket Almanac article. Excerpts that provide insights into his views include:

The love of cricket has been one of the great loves of my life; and no book of my memoirs would be either complete or credible without some reference to it.

Cricket is entirely different game. Except for those playing it, it seems to be a slow and leisurely game. The onlooker has plenty of time for reflection. He can watch the artistry of a batsman without interruption. He is concerned to know what the bowler is doing in pace or spin or turn. He can get exquisite pleasure from the speed and accuracy and beauty of movement of a great fieldsman. Between the overs (I would dislike neighbours who want to talk during an over) he can comment on the present and draw parallels with the past, to his hearts content.

Cricket, in short, is illustrative of the character of player and onlooker alike. It evokes a quiet humour, and expresses both patience and endurance.

One regrettable modern developments in big cricket is that there is too much talk outside the playing arena. For this, the sporting press must accept the major responsibility.

Interestingly Menzies did not regale on the batting deeds of Bradman. He did state “I could write  great deal about Bradman, the master batsman, the superb captain, the very able man of many talents ; but I refrain , for I want ‘mere mortals’ to have a chance.”

Menzies’ daughter Heather’s biography, stated that “While living at the lodge, my father dreamed up the idea of creating his own cricket eleven, and spent happy hours working out who to put in his team. He often went to nearby Manuka Oval and had a pretty good idea of local talent.” [23] This is part of the background to the establishment of the Prime Minister XI match that included Australian test and local players. Selth’s book The Prime Minister’s XI provided at detailed background to the establishment of this match.[24] In 1951, Ian Emerton, House of Representatives clerk and ACT Cricket Association president told Menzies that there was no visiting international cricket team to Canberra. Menzies promptly contacted Aubrey Oxlade, Australian Cricket Board chairman and suggested that visiting West Indies might like to play a one-day match in Canberra.

Menzies played a significant role in the selection of the Prime Minister’s XI – he would select eight to nine members and the ACT Cricket Association the remaining local players members including the twelfth man. The match was to be played is a festival manner that incorporated attractive batting and with negative bowling discouraged. Menzies offered to assist with expenses of the visit and that any profits from the match would go to Legacy, an organisation supporting children of war veterans.

The inaugural match on 22 October 1951 held at Manuka Oval involved the West Indies team captained by John Goddard. Menzies selected the team was captained by Jack Fingelton and included Lindsay Hassett, Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton, Ian  Johnson, Bill O‘Reilly, and New Zealander test player Martin Donnelly. Three federal parliamentarians were initially selected – ministers Athol Townley and Harold Holt and member Bill Faulkner. Holt was forced to withdraw due to influenza. The match was drawn after steady rain and poor light ended play at 5.29m.  List of PM matches held under the guidance of Menzies:

• 27 Oct 1951 – West Indies – Match drawn
• 8 Dec 1954 – Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) XI – Won by MCC  31 runs
• 10 Feb 1959 – Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) XI – Won by MCC  4  wickets]
• 18 Feb 1961 – West Indies – Match tied
• 6 Feb 1963 – Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) XI – Won by MCC 4 runs
• 3 Feb 1964 – South Africa South Africa – Won by Prime Minister’s XI 1 wicket
• 17 Dec 1965 – Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) XI – Won by MCC by 2 wickets

Menzies through the Department of Prime Minister organised the hospitality – a dinner at The Lodge and transport for the Prime Ministers XI and the visiting team. The match provided Menzies the opportunity to socialise with current and past test players. In February 1963, Menzies talked Sir Donald Bradman at age of fifty four to come out of retirement to captain the Prime Minister’s XI against the touring MCC team. In front of a crowd of 11,000, MCC won by four runs. Prior to the match, Menzies unveiled a plaque for the recently constructed Bradman Pavilion to “the most famous cricketer this country has ever produced.”[25] Due to Manuka Oval regularly hosting this match, Menzies government provided funds for its development. The last match hosted by Menzies was in December 1965 against the MCC team. Menzies announced his retirement in January 1966, five weeks after the match. Prime Minister’s XI did not resume again until 1984 when prime minister Bob Hawke resurrected it. In the intervening years, there was a lack of prime ministerial interest.

Whilst Menzies had the belief that sport and politics should be separated, he did have the view sport, particularly cricket was important in relationship building with several Commonwealth nations, particularly Australia and Britain. [26] Menzies attended the infamous Bodyline match in Adelaide as part of 1932-33 Ashes series where the relationship between Australia and England became politically strained. In his memoir, Menzies reflected on the on field events Menzies in Afternoon Light:[27]

I shall never forget the incident which provoked the ultimate crisis, for I saw it all. … Suddenly Jardine signalled to Larwood and swung the field to the bodyline setting. It was almost as if he had said – ‘This man [Woodfull who had just been struck over the heart and had fallen to the ground] is a bit groggy; let’s dispose of him!’ A roar of rage went up from 40,000 spectators. If it had been Sydney or Melbourne, I believe, … the crowd would have invaded the ground and the Test Match might have ended in tumult and disorder.
What happened thereafter is a part of cricket history; angry cables were exchanged; there was much bad feeling; all pleasure went out of the series. Jardine’s action was a blunder of the first magnitude. He had in effect announced that ‘bodyline’ was designed as a physical attack; no more and no less. Many years afterwards, he conceded to me that he would like those five minutes over again!”

Sisson and Stoddart suggested Menzies who at the time was Victorian attorney-general might have been involved in drafting the second and third Board of Control cables to MCC. This was due to his relationships with Victorian Board of Control members and friendship with Plum Warner, the English tour manager.[28]

In December 1954, Menzies replied to an urgent telegram from South African Cricket Association chairman, Brigadier Arthur Coy regarding the proposed Australian cricket tour of South Africa in 1957-8. Menzies replied that “I attach great importance from a British Commonwealth point of view to the maintenance of Australia’s cricket contacts with South Africa”.  Australian team last toured South Africa in 1949-50, and that was the first visit since 1935-6 and the South Africa toured Australia in 1952-53.  The Australian tour did proceed in 1957-58 with Australia winning three and drawing two tests.  Subsequently South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth in May 1961 and lost its membership of the Imperial Cricket Conference. Menzies in a letter to Allan Barnes, Secretary Australian Board of Control for International Cricket stated “I take the opportunity to confirm my own view that our cricket contacts with South Africa should be kept up.”[29]

In early 1955, Hugh Foot, Governor of Jamaica wrote to Menzies asking for assistance in arranging for Australian cricket team to tour the West Indies in 1955. Menzies letter to William Jeanes, Australian Board of Cricket Control long-time secretary stated that “from the point of view of British Commonwealth Relations I think it would be a very sound move”.[30] The tour went ahead and Australian team captained by Ian Johnson won three tests and drew two.  At the conclusion of the tour, Foot’s letter to Menzies stated that “I write to thank you on behalf of everyone in Jamaica for the help which you so kindly gave in arranging for the tour to take place”. [31]

Menzies was involved in promoting an Australian cricket team tour of Pakistan and India on the way home from the 1956 tour of England. In writing to Keith Miller in March 1956, Menzies stated he “greatly appreciated your comments about the good which could come of Pakistan being allocated an additional match by the Australian Board of Control. I entirely agree that these matches can do more to improve relations between countries than all the diplomatic missions we could send.” [32] Three Test matches were played, Australia winning the series 2–0 with one match drawn.

In his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry, Menzies noted that he was probably the most well-read prime minister Australia with interests, classical nineteenth-century English novels and ‘whodunits’ and cricket[33].  His collection of 3800 books containing many on cricket was donated to the University of Melbourne Library. In addition, fifty books were given to the Melbourne Cricket Club Library and about thirty family members. [34] List of titles in the collection is held by the National Library of Australia. He was frequently requested to write forewords for cricket books.

He often tried his hand at poetry, and he recited a poem on 27 June 1953 at a grand dinner in the River Room of the Savoy in London. The poem had 23 verses devoted to the individual members of the touring team.[35]

About Neil Harvey, he penned:

“Oh, for a word of rare Cardusean fire
Oh, for a song upon the poet’s lyre
Oh, that the bells should ring a noble peal
To hymn the glories of our sinister Neil.”

And for Keith Miller he gushed:

“I care not whether Keith gets runs or not
(That statement is, of course, the purest rot)
But what I swear is that his off-drive yet
Is worth a lengthy paragraph in Debrett.”

On rare occasions he offered sterling references to his political domain. In the recent half-Senate elections in May, only in Queensland had the coalition won more seats than Labour. Hence, when he spoke about Ron Archer, Menzies said,

“If Ronald Archer were no good at all
Instead of adept with both bat and ball
I still would cheer him both louder and faster
For Queensland lately saved me from disaster.”

Menzies also revealed his keen eye for cricketing character when he summarised the new leg-spinning all-rounder Richie Benaud as:

“Benaud be bold, Benaud the giant killer
Bowls like Doug Ring but gestures like Keith Miler.”

And his knowledge of cricketing history was apparent when he consoled teenaged Ian Craig on his low scores on the tour by drawing parallels with the young Stan McCabe.

“The infant Craig reclining in the shade
Takes comfort from the history of McCabe.”

Of course, he was well aware of his limitations as a poet. And hence, while writing about wicketkeeper Don Tallon he observed,

“The clutching Tallon oft the Umpire hails
Before he’s actually removed the bails
(I know that it is libellous, but stay
I could not get a rhyme another way.)”

When it was over, captain Hassett replied in kind:

“With his iron grey hair and his pugnacious air
His appearance tends to the sinister
But there’s no need to fear for he’ll quaff down his beer
And he’s merely our worthy Prime Minister.

When they play on the swards of the Oval or Lord’s
Though the state of Australia’s distressing
His time he’ll employ at a pub called Savoy
For external affairs are more pressing.

But we’ll hide our hate of this terrible state
Though the blot on our conscience will stay
We’ve eaten and drunk and can now do a bunk
But he’s got to bloody well pay.”

Menzies developed personal relationships with many  leading cricketers and frequently organised dinner parties with former players in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and London, visited  dressing rooms and attended numerous cricket functions. Perkins wrote “Menzies loved being among cricketers, for whom he had a kind od of hero worship. He was always relaxed with them, giving the impression it was a privilege to be with them.” [36] Menzies correspondence with many cricketers can be viewed in his personal collection at the National Library of Australia. A letter to Australian cricket captain Bob Simpson is a good example.

Menzies developed a special relationship with Australian test player Jack Fingleton who was a respected cricket writer and political correspondent in Canberra.

Menzies membership included the Melbourne Cricket Club and Marylebone Cricket Club. In 1962, he became president of the Lord’s Tavener’s. In March 1977, Queen Elizabeth II personally presented Menzies with his insignia as the first Knight of the Order of Australia when she attended centenary test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Menzies love of cricket can also be linked to his affection to Britain. The Ashes series were an important link to Britain for Menzies as it represented the national rivalry between Australia and England but emphasised shared sporting interests. Cricket to Menzies helped maintain the connection of several leading Commonwealth nations.

Menzies throughout his life was absorbed in the game, techniques, strategies, personalities and traditions. It also provided him with a significant distraction from the many issues that he had to manage whilst being prime minister for over sixteen years that included post-World War II reconstruction and Cold War.

Images of Menzies at cricket matches

• Prime Minister, Robert Menzies tosses the coin at the Prime Minister’s XI versus the West Indies Cricket Match at Manuka Oval. From left, is the Australian captain Jack Fingleton, Mr Menzies and the West Indian captain, John D. Goddard, 1951·    
• Sir Robert Menzies (left), Ted Dexter (middle) and Sir Donald Bradman climb the stairs from the pitch to the newly opened Bradman Pavilion, 1963
• Queen Elizabeth II with former Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies in Melbourne, at MCG during 1977 Centenary Test 

Tennis

Menzies was very passionate tennis spectator and follower. During his time as prime minister, Australia’s Davis Cup men’s team was very successful and coached by Harry Hopman. There are frequent newspaper reports of Menzies attending Davis Cup Challenge Rounds (the final) held in Australia. There is film footage of Menzies at 1961 Challenge Round at Kooyong, Melbourne. In 1941, Menzies was elected patron of Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria.[37]

Australia won the Davis Cup, an international competition for amateur male players, for the first time as Australia on 5 September 1939 in Haverford, United States. Previous wins were as Australasia including New Zealand players. John Bromwich and Adrian Quist combined to defeat the United States 3-2. News of this success was broadcast back to Australia, but the victory was diminished after Menzies declared that Australia was at war on 3 September. 

After World War II, the Davis Cup returned with the Challenge Round held at Kooyong. Australia lost to the United States 5-0 and Menzies stated that “Kramer and Schroeder had proved themselves two of the most unforgettable players to visit Australia”.[38].  Australia finally regained the Davis Cup in August 1950 at Forest Hills, New York. Following the victory, Menzies sent Hopman the message “”Delighted, congratulations upon magnificent victory, particularly upon your own splendid leadership and superb play of Bromwich, Sedgman, and McGregor. I know that in addition to winning you have all created a fine personal impression which is of great value to our country.”[39]

 From 1950 to 1966 – only with losses in 1954, 1958 and 1963, Australia won the Davis Cup.  The 1950’s and 1960’s was a golden era of Australian men’s tennis with Ken McGregor, Frank Sedgman, Ken Rosewall, Lew Hoad, Mal Anderson, Ashley Cooper, Rod Laver, Neale Fraser, Fred Stolle and Roy Emerson playing significant roles in Davis Cup triumphs. Menzies and his wife attended most Challenge Rounds held in Australia particularly as they were in late December.

Australian female players started to have success on the international circuit in the 1960’s. Margaret Smith and Lesley Turner both won Grand Slam titles outside Australia during the Menzies’ prime ministership and Australia won the new female Federation Cup competition in 1964 and 1965 with the later played at Kooyong, Melbourne on 18 January.

Menzies frequently gave addresses at events leading into tennis tournaments. In December 1954, at the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia dinner prior to Victorian Championships, Menzies told the players to ignore the critics and not to read the papers. The headline in The Argus was ‘Pig-iron Bob, Tennis Coach’ referring to Rosewall’s win due to the advice given by Menzies. [40] There is film footage of Menzies at the Challenge Cup in Adelaide in 1956.

Commonwealth meetings frequently led Menzies to being in England during its summer. Besides attending cricket test matches, Menzies was able to attend Wimbledon in 1953, 1957 and 1965 according to newspaper reports and public correspondence.

Menzies had strong personal relationships with Norman Brookes, Harry Hopman and many leading players. Brookes, from Melbourne, was Australia’s first international tennis star winning two Wimbledon championships, and scoring a number of Davis Cup wins in the period before World War I.  He was a highly influential businessman and served as president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia from 1926 until 1955. He was closely aligned to conservative political parties. Hopman was captain-coach of 22 Australian David Cup teams from 1939 to 1967. Menzies wrote the foreword to his book Aces and Places published in 1957. 

In Menzies personal copy of My Game by Lew Hoad, with Jack Pollard published in 1958 and held by the Robert Menzies Institute, there are inscriptions from leading players. These highlight his strong connections:[41]

“To Mr. Menzies my best wishes. Lew Hoad.”

“Good luck to our fine PM [indecipherable] Jack Kramer”

 “To Mr Menzies, Hope this improves your game. Best Wishes. Rex Hartwig”

 “To Mr. Menzies, good reading & best wishes, Ken Rosewall”

 “Dear Mr. Menzies – I’ll sign this for you if you promise not to sell it to Japan!!! Ha! Best wishes, Tony Trabert[?]”

“To Mr. Menzies, with gratitude to No 1 tennis fan in Australia. Good Luck. Frank Sedgman “and from “Jack Pollard””

and on half title page: “To Mr Menzies Sincere Wishes. Pancho (Gonzales).

Menzies public interest in tennis led to highly respected sports magazine Sports Illustrated requesting that he write a paid lengthy article on tennis in 1955. The article provided insights into tennis in Australia and the development of game. These include the popularity of the game in Australia, the move of tennis being professional and a business and its role in international relations. Selected excerpts from the article include:[42]      

In Australia, the popularity of tennis is enormous. It is actively played by hundreds of thousands of people, and (such are our fortunate conditions) from one year’s end to another. Australia’s eminence in the game surprises many people. “How does it come about”, they say “that a country which has only just reached a population of 9,000,000 can so consistently have produced teams which, over a long period of years, have been outmatched in success only by the United States?

Yet one of the fascinating things to witness is how the popularity of a game can affect the game itself, and the position of its leading players. When a game becomes so popular as a spectacle for thousands or scores of thousands, the game becomes big business. To the public or private provision of thousands of tennis courts there is added (I emphasise added, because the active playing of the game continues to expand) the large-scale and costly provision of spectators’ accommodation, the intensive organisation of competitions, the handling of interstate and international tours. This has all meant an inevitable change in the activities and nature of the leading amateur players. The old amateurism has been replaced by the new, and we have seen the rise of professional play.

But time has moved on. Big tennis has, as I have said, become big business. The cost of putting on good matches, with special stands and expensive organisation and vast crowds of spectators have all involved today’s player, if public interest is to be maintained, in almost continuous play, in tournament or exhibition. Under the modern circumstances of high taxation, few people can afford such “leisure”.

The “old” amateur has practically disappeared from the top ranks, in Australia at any rate. And so, we have entered a period when some promising boy of 14 or 15, his education hardly begun, is picked out for coaching and development, and joins the staff of some sporting goods firm. Brookes played his first Davis Cup in 1905, at the age of 28; his last in 1920, at the age of 43; when, in the Challenge Round, he took both W. T. Tilden and W. M. Johnston to four sets; one of the most remarkable feats in Lawn Tennis history. Today a player who plays his first Davis Cup at 18 or 19 is being described as a ”veteran” by the time he is 26 or 27!

What is the effect of the Davis Cup or other contests on international relations? The accepted answer is “good”. It appears to be widely believed that the spectacle of 2 or 4 young athletes fighting out a Davis Cup tie, or a Wimbledon or Forest Hills final, is in its very nature a contribution to international understanding and good will.

Dame Mabel Brookes, wife of Norman Brookes, in her biography commented on Menzies behaviour as a spectator at Davis Cup matches:[43]

 Our Prime Minister is a man of enthuisiasms. To sit beside him during a Davis Cup match is to experience vicariously a full range of emotion. His hat is discarded and, like Norman’s the greyting hair becomes deranged and disregarded. The roar of the crowd dominates his own exclamations and admoninations, as mixture of Scot and patriotic Australian, he pulls for his side. Because he identifies himself with it he is a perfect reflector of the feelings of the crowd. A potent mouthpiece, one feels thankful he is a law abiding gentleman holding high office in the Brtitish Commonwealth. If fate had cast him otherwise, in the role of agitator, Australia would have had something on her hands. The very strength of his enthusiasm is one of hos most valued assets.

Whilst living at The Lodge in Canberra, on Sundays he would host tennis match with parliamentary colleagues, party officials or departmental officers.[44]

Menzies second stint as prime minister was during what many have referred to as the ‘Golden Age of Australian Sport’ due to its success in international sport. Besides enjoying watching high level tennis, Menzies understood how success in the Davis Cup and grand slams raised Australia’s reputation internationally, particularly with United States.[45]

Australian Football

Menzies interest in Australian football can be traced to his childhood in Jeparit where he played the game. At the age of ten he wrote the following poem:[46]

Jeparit (the Jeps) and neighbouring Rainbow (the bows) at just 10 years of age:

…The match is now started,

And the men have soon darted

Away with the ball to the North,

From which place it is punted by Alf Garwith

And this in the match,

Jeps vs. Bows…

Source – Jeparit Historical Society

Menzies was a well-known supporter of the Carlton Football Club in Melbourne and became their number one ticket holder. In the 1930s, it was reported that he was a legal advisor to Cartton. [47]

In his foreword to Hugh Buggy’s A History of the Carlton Football Club published in 1958, he wrote why he came to support Carlton:[48]

When I came to live as a schoolboy in Melbourne in 1910, my two elder brothers had for a time lived with relatives in the North Carlton area. Thus it was, and so simply, that I became, by derivation and family influence, a Carlton supporter. Before long, though my parents lived in East Melbourne, and thereafter in Camberwell and then South Yarra and then Kew, I found myself a warm supporter, by personal conviction, of “the old Blues. 

In 1952, The Argus sports journalist Hugh Buggy gave insights into Menzies’ support of Carlton Football Club. For Menzies, watching an Australian football game was cathartic and a distraction from politics. Buggy stated: [49]

Take the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies. He makes no insincere pretense that he is interested in football in an academic way. He is an indefatigable supporter of Carlton, and he doesn’t give two hoots who knows it. He goes to football to see the Blues win. For two emancipated hours that full-throated bellow “Bowl ’em over, Blues” is music to Mr Menzies. He enjoys every minute of it. For two hours he puts behind him all the problems and bother of politics. “Chook” Howell and Ollie Grieve and what they’re doing are far more vital to the Prime Minister than what Dr. Evatt and members of the Opposition are saying or doing. I was close to Mr. Menzies in the 62,000 crowd that watched one of the roughest grand finals of all time between Carlton and South Melbourne, at Carlton oval, in 1945. I studied his reactions to the slugging and to the play whenever players forgot their feuds and really played. Mr. Menzies was then Leader of the Opposition, and he was in “the outer,” where rain pattered steadily on his black Homburg. He began tense and pale as Carlton battled against solid opposition for that first break that is so important in a grand final. It was a long time coming, and “R.G.” clenched and unclenched his hands, wiped his rain-wet face with a handkerchief, and swayed with the rocking crowd.

He was quiet but obviously tensed up until a South player felled Carlton’s Ken Hands with a vicious uppercut. Then we saw a new Mr. Menzies. His face flushed crimson. He stamped his foot. All his reserve vanished.” That was atrocious,” he yelled across the inclined plane of hate, “absolutely atrocious. That man should be rubbed out of the game for life.” “You’re quite right, Bob,” shouted one solid Carlton supporter near him. “I agree with you for once. Bob. It was bloody murder. C’mon the Blues. Fling yer weight into these mugs.” Gradually Carlton got the upper hand. Mr. Menzies was able to relax, and he cheered wildly with the rest as the Blues fought to their seventh League pennant. His loyalty to Carlton Football Club has never waned since his University days.

His daughter Heather wrote that before his prime ministerial years, he regularly attended the footy and he would purchase a packet of peanuts to munch on.[50] Interestingly, he was often accompanied by the ALP federal opposition leader Arthur Calwell, who supported North Melbourne. Menzies lamented that he was only able to watch Carlton play two or three times a year whilst prime minister due to living in The Lodge in Canberra.

Menzies regularly attended Australian football games whilst a member of parliament in Canberra. In 1939, during his first term as prime minister, Menzies granted Canberra public servants half a day’s leave to watch Carlton play Hawthorn at Manuka Oval in an exhibition match. Coincidently Hawthorn was based in his Kooyong electorate.[51] Carlton 15.8 (98) defeated Hawthorn 12.15 (87) in front of an estimated crowd of 4,000. At the time, it was the most significant sporting event played in Canberra.[52]

Menzies was invited to open the 1939 Australian football season in Canberra but was unable to attend. His message to the League highlighted importance of Australian football in the development of Australia’s capital. “I must confess that I like to watch a game of football and have a marked bias in favor of the Australian rules game. Further, I am fully aware of the splendid efforts which have been made by the Lague to encourage this healthy form of sport in the Australian Capital Territory”.[53]

In 1971, a severe stroke led to limited public appearances, but he still attended Carlton games. Initially, several strong men would carry Menzies up into the stand Princess Park, Carlton. Subsequently, a special wooden ramp was built between two grandstands so that he could watch his beloved Blues with his long-time driver in his Bentley. A report on his attendance at a match between Carlton and Footscray in September 1972 stated “Sir Robert puffed on a fat cigar during the game and said he was enjoying himself immensely. Children milled around the car and people called out “good on you, Bob” as the former Prime Minister drove away from the ground- at half-time.” Menzies sitting in his Bentley gave some the impression of elitism. [54]In April 1973, he addressed the crowd in his wheelchair before a match between Carlton and North Melbourne at Princess Park where Carlton unfurled its 1972 VFL premiership flag.[55]

Source: Sir Robert Menzies oversees the match from the passenger seat of his Bentley. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)

Australian football like his other sporting interests provided Menzies a distraction from the often onerous prime ministerial duties.

America’s Cup

America’s Cup is regarded as the oldest competition in international sport as it was founded in 1851.  It is a match race between two yachts – the defender and the challenger.  In 1959, leading Australian newspaper proprietor Sir Frank Packer decided to challenge for the Cup that had been held by the United States since its inception. The previous unsuccessful challengers included fifteen from Britain and two from Canada. The challenge would be at the 1962 Cup hosted by the defender the New York Yacht Club, Rhode Island.

Griffen-Foley has provided an in-depth examination of Packer’s bid to win the 1962 Cup, and this included the involvement of Menzies and his government.[56] This examination drew upon Menzies papers held in the National Library of Australia. Packer’s approach to Menzies stressed that the Australian challenge would improve relations between Australia and the United States.  In July 1959, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron supported an Australian challenge led by Packe and he wrote to Menzies outlining his plans.

In August 1959, Packer informed Menzies that the syndicate would be purchasing the yacht Vim, a yacht that helped the previous US defender in trial races.  Between August and September 1959, Menzies government ministers were requested to assist with the importation of Vim by allowing an important licence and duty free concession. Menzies at the time did not appear to be overly interested in the Packer challenge. Packer requested Menzies to be patron, but he replied, “I would like to see your plans become a little more advanced before deciding whether or not become patron of the event”. [57]

In August 1961, Packer wrote to Menzies requesting that Gretel, Australia’s challenger be transported to New York in 1962 by the aircraft carrier H.M.A.S. Melbourne. Menzies rejected the request due to the aircraft carrier being diverted from normal activities for eleven to twelve weeks and the cost of fuel. Packer was not impressed with the reply. [58] On 28 February 1962, Dame Pattie Menzies christened Gretel at Kirribilli, Sydney Harbour.[59] It appeared that Menzies became more interested in Packer’s challenge and this may have been due to Packer’s newspapers supporting him in the 1961 federal election held in December – an election where Menzies won with a two-seat majority. [60]

Menzies was questioned in federal parliament about his possible attendance at the 1962 Cup held from 15 September. The 1962 Cup followed Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference held in London.  On 28 August 1962, leading ALP Eddie Ward House of Representatives member asked the following the question

 Is it the intention of the Prime Minister to hasten back to Australia at the termination of the Commonwealth Prime Minister’s conference to grapple with the problem of unemployment and the economic difficulties of the country? If the Prime Minister does not intend to return to Australia immediately the conference concludes, will he say whether he plans to attend the race for the America’s Cup, recognized as deciding world supremacy in yachting, such contests being exclusively reserved for participation by the very wealthy.

Menzies replied:

I will come back to Australia after the conference in the United Kingdom. The House is getting up for September. I hope to be here, reasonably well and going about my work, when the House resumes. I do not propose to see the race but, like every other Australian, I would love to see us win it.

Gretel lost the United States defender, Weatherly 4-1 but after winning the second race Menzies sent a telegram from London that included statement “Australians around here to-day stand about ten feet tall, all very excited and happy”.[61]

Menzies on his return to federal parliament in October faced several questions.  On 2 October 1962, Raymond Whitton, Liberal member, asked Menzies:[62]

Will the Government consider assisting financially any future challenge by Australia for the America’s Cup, in view of the excellent publicity and goodwill obtained by our country as a result of the recent contest?

Menzies response highlighted the importance of the challenge:

I thought it had Australian backers, an Australian naval architect and high-quality workmanship by Australian boatbuilders as well as an Australian crew, and a great deal of Australian goodwill and enormous success and publicity and goodwill in the United States.

On 3 October 1962, the ALP’s Eddie Ward speech included a comment regarding the Menzies attendance at international sporting events:[63]

I refer to the frequent overseas ministerial visits. I know that on many occasions there are important conferences where Government representation is required; but I certainly believe it has become a habit in recent years for Ministers to trip overseas on all sorts of pretexts. Strangely enough, many of their overseas visits coincide with important international sporting events and social functions. Recently Ministers from Australia went overseas at public expense claiming that many important and difficult questions had to be dealt with and it was imperative that they go. Then we picked up the daily press and saw that Ministers who were supposed to be engaged in important national work were at Newport.

At the 1962 dinner prior to the event were treasurer Harold Holt and minister for external affairs Garfield Barwick and their wives.[64] The accusation was that too many ministers coincided overseas travel with sporting events – this was an accusation often directed at Menzies.

Ward further questioned Menzies on 23 October 1962:[65]

1.  Have any functions, the cost of which is a Commonwealth responsibility, associated with the series of yachting races for the America’s Cup to commence at an early date, been arranged by the Government or organized by Sir Howard Beale, Australian Ambassador to the United States of America?

2.   If so, what is the estimated expenditure, who are the people who have received invitations and how was it determined to whom invitations would be extended?

Menzies replied:

1.   The Australian Ambassador to the United States, Sir Howard Beale, gave a dinner at Newport on 14th September 1962, to mark the occasion of the America’s Cup races in which the Australian yacht ” Gretel ” was the challenger.

2.   The Ambassador invited approximately 300 distinguished American citizens to this dinner. President Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy accepted an invitation to be present. The Ambassador was authorized to spend up to 8,100 dollars on this function, at which Australian food and wines were served and Australian wild flowers displayed. The occasion of an Australian challenge for the cup presented a unique opportunity for favorable publicity for Australia in the United States.

Australia did not challenge for the 1964 Cup. In Packer’s 1967 Cup challenge, their yacht was named Dame Pattie after her consent. There is footage of Menzies christening Dame Pattie at Sydney Harbour. [66]

Menzies spoke at the America’s Cup dinner given by the Australian ambassador, Keith Waller, in Newport, Rode Island in September 1967. His comments included “The America’s Cup, was one of the great contests of the sporting world. Strangely enough, I don’t think any Americans would begrudge us a victory”.[67] He visited the Australian crew skippered by Jack Sturrock before each race and watch the race from the Australian tender whilst wearing a white Australian sailing cap. Damie Pattie was defeated by the defender Intrepid in four races. [68]

Ultimately, Menzies came to view Australia’s participation was important in terms of diplomacy and publicity within the United States.

Horse racing

His daughter Heather noted that he was not initially interested in horse racing. Except that he would look at the day’s results in the Sporting Globe or the Herald on a Saturday.  [69] Menzies famously paused the House of Representatives for the 1950 Melbourne Cup won by Comic Court. In replying to the criticism, Menzies said: [70]:

I suppose that I am the most notorious non racegoer in the House.  

I am perfectly certain that none of the 4,000,000 people who listened in to the broadcast to the race this afternoon will have any bitter complaint to make about the fact that honorable members also listened in to it, although, no doubt, about 3,500,000 of them will have bitter complaints to make on an entirely different ground.

In 1954, as part of her coronation tour of Australia, Menzies accompanied Queen Elizabeth II to Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, where they watched several races including the Coronation Cup. Menzies filmed her visit to the races that day.

Menzies whilst recuperating from his stroke at the Mount Royal Rehabilitation Hospital in Melbourne took a greater interest in horse racing by listening to the Saturday afternoon races. Henderson quipped “the legend is that the volume went up and up, but the other patients weren’t game to complain”. In June 1972, champion Victorian jockey Roy Higgins visited Menzies in hospital. His daughter Heather summarised Higgins initial conversation with Menzies saying, “Ah, you are the boy from the Riverina” and “If I don’t talk about politics and you don’t talk about the races, we should get on beautifully together”.

                        Menzies Government and Sport

Menzies had the conservative view that sport and government should be separated with limited interaction and direction of its organisation. This would change under the ALP Whitlam government. However, Menzies government determined the role of sport during World War II, supported major multisport international events in Australia and was involved in managing tensions within the Commonwealth that flowed into sport.

National Fitness ACT 1941

A significant contribution to improving the physical fitness of Australians was the National Fitness Act 1941 legislated by the Menzies government. This legislative development was led by Harold Holt, a future prime minister and it set up the Commonwealth Council for National Fitness and six state councils. The budget for the National Fitness Council was £20,000 for five years.  While the stated intention of the National Fitness Act was to improve the overall fitness of the population, it’s a prime motivation was that the fitness level of many Australian men who had enlisted to serve in World War II had been defined as low.  An early priority of state fitness councils was the funding on learn to swim programs – these are now in abundance throughout Australia but generally privatised.  Australia’s international success in swimming could be attributed to many Australian children participating in learn to swim. Hartung argued that the National Fitness Act 1941 was rare Menzies invention into the sport and fitness policy area.[71]

World War II

Menzies was prime minister on 3 September 1939 when in a national radio broadcast stated that “Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of the persistence of Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.”[72] Due to this declaration, the continuation of sport during a world war was immediately brought into question.  Menzies expressed his view regarding Australian football in Football Record on 9 September 1939[73]:

Sportsmen can best help by completing their football programmes. A healthy, well-occupied mind is the best instrument I know which can avoid panic. Sport plays a big part in providing this healthy outlook, so to you sportsmen I say, ‘Carry on’.

Menzies reaffirmed his views on the continuance of sport in Sporting Globe on 5 June 1940: [74]

The question of continuing sport at the present time is one for the authorities controlling sport to answer. If they feel they can carry on with their programmes, then I think they should.

My feeling is that every man has to ask himself: Am I making some definite contribution toward our national war effort? Am I putting the important things first.

Having answered those questions there is no possible reason why sport should not continue. Indeed, I think sport can serve a very useful purpose and a very necessary one.

If we were to stop all sport, where is the community to find its recreation? Are we as a people to stand around in groups talking over and over the things that are uppermost in our minds at the moment?

No. In the last analysis we must still have exercise and recreation. We all need exercise and recreation at a time of testing like this. You need recreation. I need recreation.

Let me put the position this way. I am a very busy man, few are busier, but if at any time during the season I have the opportunity to see a football match, I will go and thoroughly enjoy it for the excellent recreation it provides. I would feel that I had thoroughly deserved the recreation that football gave to me.

 And every man in his own way feels somewhat the same.

As a nation, we present as fine example as could be found of sound balance and good sense in judging between our duty and our recreation. I personally have no fear. In fact, I know that this new test will not find it wanting.

If we went the full limit and closed up all sport as a few would have us do, what good would it serve? Indeed, I fear it might serve a very bad purpose.

This I would very much like to see—sport tied up with national effort in the way of increasing patriotic and war funds. Quite a lot is being done, but in professional ranks, if some part of the salaries paid could be earmarked to war bonds, I would be happy.

The ALP’s John Curtin became prime minister on 29 August 1941 and his views regarding the continuance of sport followed Menzies view.

Olympic Games

Chifley government supported Melbourne’s bid for the 1956 Olympic Games, and it went on to win the right to host the Games on 28 April 1949. Chifley indicated that his government would provide a substantial contribution to hosting the Games, but it was left to the Menzies government that won the 1949 general election to deal with the federal government’s funding and involvement in the 1956 Games.

Before he became prime ministerfor the second time, the Sporting Globe in June 1949 called for Menzies to be appointed as the arbiter in the dispute between the Melbourne Invitation Committee led by Frank Bearepaire, an Olympic swimmer and Victorian MLA and the Australian Olympic Federation (AOF) in determining appointments to the Organising Committee. It suggested that Menzies, leader of the federal opposition, was best placed to settle the dispute as “He has the advantage legal training, would be respected by both parties, is leading citizen of Melbourne, and is a very keen follower of Australian sport” and that  “A man of Mr Menzies intellect could quickly pour oil on these troubled waters and get all of our best Olympic brains working together, to make the 1956 Olympics the greatest on record.”[75] The Organising Committee for the XVIth Olympiad Melbourne 1956 was established in 1951 and its chair was Melbourne based federal parliamentarian and 1920 Olympian Wilfred Kent Hughes. Menzies government appointed Harold Holt, the minister for Labour and National Service and Immigration as its representative on the Committee.  In September 1951, Menzies in promoting the AOF’s 1952 Helsinki Olympics appeal, stated his view of the value of the Olympic Games:[76]

The amateur athlete exhibits in its purest form the willingness for self discipline, the sense of endurance, the will to win. the indifference to material rewards which have done so much for the civilised world.

This highlighted his view that amateur sport had important characteristics and ideals.

The early issue to be determined in the Games organisation was the site on the main stadium and this issue was debated for several years and placed Melbourne’s right to the host the Games under scrutiny and forfeiture on three occasions.  There were several options proposed – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Carlton Cricket Ground (Princess Park), Olympic Park, Albert Park, St Kilda Cricket Ground and the University of Melbourne Sports Oval.[77] The MCG was the preferred location but MCG Trustees that included the vested interests of cricket and Australian football associations did not want it to be placed out of action in preparation for the Games. The Showgrounds became the preferred site for the Melbourne lord mayor and brief state premiers Thomas Holloway and John McDonald. By 1952, Carlton Cricket Ground became the preferred location. In March 1952, the Menzies government agreed to only pay half the cost – £250,000 with the state government and Melbourne City Council paying the remainder for Carlton ground to be transformed into the Olympic stadium. The Age reported:[78]

The Prime Minister (Mr. Menzies) played a bold hand at the start of the discussions by laying down his offer, on behalf the Federal Government, to accept half the financial obligations of the Games.

Mr. Menzies surprised several delegates with the magnitude of his offer and laid the foundation for agreement on Carlton cricket ground as the main site.

But new premier John Cain withdrew support for Carlton due to the revised estimate £1.5 million to complete construction. On 15 January 1953, he ordered work on the Carlton ground to cease.[79]

In January 1953, Cain decided it was worth pursuing the MCG again. This led to a meeting on 26 January 1953 involving the Menzies government, Cain government, AOF, MCG trustees and the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Committee. In the end, the MCG trustees and the MCC committee agreed to allow the MCG to be the main stadium. The Cain government was willing to contribute to the redevelopment of the MCG that included increasing its capacity from 85,000 to 120,000 and it would proceed to funding a housing development in Heidelberg that would be the Olympic Village. At the time of these discussions, there was a housing shortage in Melbourne.

During Avery Brundage, IOC president’s visit in April 1955, he highlighted his concern with the slow construction progress due to industrial action in late 1954.[80] There was the threat to transfer the Games to another city and Brundage was critical of the leadership of Kent Hughes. The Argus reported that “His action is in contrast to that of Prime Minister Menzies, who has invited Mr. Brundage to Canberra for discussions. Mr. Menzies, a true internationalist, knows what the Games mean to Australia — and we must now depend on him to make their success a personal responsibility. There is no need for us to be disheartened by the Brundage “blast.”[81]

Menzies in answer to questions in the House of Representatives in March 1953 outlined the background to the Olympic stadium and his government to funding the Games.[82]

The then Prime Minister, the late Mr. J.B. Chifley, sent a communication which indicated that he attached some importance to the Olympic Games, but, so far as I know, he made no financial commitment in relation to them. Since then, a variety of discussions has occurred. I, myself, have taken a hand in the last two or three of them, because it seemed that arguments about the site for the games would go on interminably. I think I am right in saying that, as the result of our intervention with a practical financial offer, some finality, or what appeared to be finality, was produced. I myself went to Melbourne last year and, on behalf of this Government, I attended a conference called by the then Premier of Victoria. I said that we thought that some finality should be reached on the matter. An estimate of the cost of the Olympic Games was approximately £1,250,000, and I then said that the Commonwealth, in order to avoid the risk of losing the games and in order to maintain the prestige of the country, would voluntarily find one-half of that amount, that is, £625,000. The Victorian Government was to find one quarter of the amount and the Melbourne City Council was to provide the remaining one-quarter. My friend, the honorable member for Melbourne, was present at that meeting, and will recall those events

Anyhow, that offer was accepted, and the Carlton Football Ground was chosen as the venue for the games. Subsequently, arguments arose about the Carlton ground. At the last conference of the interested parties, which I attended, the Premier of Victoria, Mr. Cain, very spiritedly put forward the view that to build another stadium at Carlton, when there was an adequate, or the substance of an adequate Stadium in Melbourne, would be a mistake at a time when there was a shortage of housing and other things. Therefore, Mr. Cain used his influence, and it was a determining influence because he is the Premier of Victoria, in favour of the selection of the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Olympic Games. I entirely accepted that position. I said that the Commonwealth did not have the job of determining the place in Melbourne where the Olympic Games should be held, but that we were certainly prepared to provide £625,000 for them.

Menzies government provided an additional grant of £12,000 to the Australian team of six equestrians that would represent Australia at the equestrian competition held in Stockholm, Sweden due to it not being held in Melbourne due to Australia’s strict quarantine laws.[83]

In September 1955, it was announced that Menzies had consented to being appointed as the President of the 1956 Olympic Games. Menzies at the time was President of the Australian Olympic Federation. The duties of President included being host to the representatives of the visiting nations and receiving the Duke of Edinburgh when, he arrived to open the Games.[84]

Television came late to Australia and just in time for the 1956 Olympics. Menzies government took a conservative view to its introduction and set up a royal commission into television in 1953. In 1954, the Menzies government formally announced the introduction of the new two-tiered TV system – a government-funded service run by the ABC, and two commercial services in Sydney and Melbourne. The 1956 Games became the major driving force behind the introduction of television to Australia

In a letter to Menzies on 10 October 1956, Charles Spry, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general warned that the Games could lead to defectors and refugees from the “Soviet Union, Satellites and Communist China”, Spry outlined to Menzies procedures for any defectors or refugees[85]. This issue gained more prominence on 23 October 1956, with university students revolting against the Hungarian government. This led to the Soviet Union on 4 November invading Hungary to crush the anti-communism revolution. The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland boycotted the Games as a result of the invasion. The uprising had been supressed by the start of the Games on 22 November but increased the possibility of athletes and officials seeking political asylum. An example of tensions from the Soviet Union invasion was the water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union. The match was a violent affair, and it is referred to ‘Blood in the Water’ match. It has been reported that 61 individuals, mostly Hungarian, decided not to return to their home countries after the Games.[86] The Games brought home to Menzies that sport and politics do mix as many nations use the boycotting of major international sporting events as a highlighting the displeasure with international events or policies of countries.

Menzies reflection on the Games, known as ‘The Friendly Games’, is documented in the Official Report:[87]

In the minds of the many thousands who saw the Melbourne Olympic Games of 1956 there still lives a green and pleasant memory. In the course of my own life, I have seen many magnificent sights. I have seen nothing more stirring than the Opening and Closing Days at the Main Stadium.

There can be no doubt that from first to last the Games were a great success. In the early days, before the site for the track events had been settled, there were unhappy disputes and differences. But these were all resolved, and in the long run an organization of remarkable efficiency came into being. Looking back on it all, I believe that three things in particular made a lasting impression.

Menzies frequently took home movies of his travels and events attended. National Film and Sound Archive holds some of the footage taken by Menzies at the Games.

Menzies government continued the tradition of funding Australian Olympic teams. It provided £8,000, £20,000 and £ 30,000 to the Australian Olympic Federation to assist with travel to the 1952 Helsinki, 1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo Olympics.[88]

British Empire and Commonwealth Games

Menzies was a strong supporter of the Commonwealth and the British Empire Games that commenced in Hamilton, Canada in 1930 as it played an important role in maintaining the Commonwealth.  However, his government was only willing to provide limited funding to support Australian teams travelling to the Games – it was not at the level provided to the Australian Olympic team. This limited financial support was often criticised. In 1954, former Australian test cricketer Sid Barnes was critical of the Menzies government for not sufficiently assisting the Australian British Empire and Commonwealth  Games Association to send the team to the 1954 Vancouver Games as it only provided a grant of £5000.[89] Barnes stated that  “Prime Minister Menzies probably is the most sporting minded first Australian this country has ever had, and I just can’t understand why he is standing by doing nothing while Empire Games officials struggle to muster sufficient money to get some of the selected members to Canada. [90]

Again in 1958, the Menzies Government was criticised by only providing £5000 for the 1958 Cardiff Games team.[91]  The Australian team was originally booked to travel with Canadian Pacific Airways due Qantas high cost per fare. Menzies criticised the Association for not having travelled with Qantas.[92] The Australian trade union movement was critical of this limited funding provided to the team.

In April 1958, the ALP’s Jim Cope in the House of Representatives asked Menzies to increase the £5,000 grant as it was considered frugal compared to New Zealand’s £10,000 grant. Menzies replied:[93]

I am not familiar with what the people at large may think. I have read, in one or two places, loud criticism of the Government’s grant, but I have not noticed in the same organs reference to any handsome contribution by themselves for this purpose which seems to them to be of such importance from a publicity point of view. However, the honorable member’s suggestion will, as always, have my proper consideration.

Positively in April 1958, Menzies government agreed to contribute £100,000 towards the expense of conducting the British Empire Games in Australia in 1962.[94] In June 1958, Perth defeated Adelaide after the original host city selection of Adelaide in 1956 was revisited.  In August 1960, treasurer Harold Holt repeated the Menzies government financial contribution by stating:[95]

However, the Commonwealth Government has already announced that it will make a grant of £100,000 towards the cost of conducting the games, and, along lines somewhat similar to those that were followed in the case of the Olympic Games, we are deferring the payment of interest by the State Government in respect of money advanced for housing constructed for the purposes of the games. The interest payable on loan moneys used for this purpose will be deferred to a date three months later than the conclusion of the games, by which time the State Government will presumably have arranged for alternate use to be made of the housing.

The Menzies allocated another £60,000 for conducting the Games after visiting Games facilities. There is film footage of his visit. [96] Prince Phillip officially opened the Games with Menzies in attendance. Western Australian government and the Perth City Council were primarily responsible for the construction of facilities and the management of the 1962 Games.

South African Sport and the Commonwealth

Menzies understood cricket’s role in uniting many Commonwealth nations but he believed that sport should be apolitical. In his 1970 book, The Measure of the Years, his view was that sporting competitions with South Africa should continue even though it maintained an apartheid system. The constitutional referendum in South Africa in 1960 led to the Republic of South Africa coming intoexistence on 31 May 1961. This led to South Africa departing the Commonwealth. Prior to its departure, at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in March 1961, Menzies and British prime minster Harold Macmillan fought to keep South Africa in the Commonwealth. The real issue for many Commonwealth nations was South Africa’s racial policy that led to national sporting teams being white only. Martin summarised the 1961 meeting:[97]

Menzies and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan ‘worked like horses’ over a series of drafts to find words that would be acceptable to all and would therefore keep the Commonwealth intact. The final statement expressed ‘deep concern’ about the impact of South Africa’s racist policies on ‘the relations between member countries of the Commonwealth, which is itself a multi-racial association of peoples’. Under mounting pressure, South Africa withdrew its application to re-enter the Commonwealth. Menzies made no bones about his belief that South Africa had been ‘pushed out’. He began to feel that the balance of power had changed so much that his own views had become relatively unimportant.

South Africa did not participate at the 1962 British Empire Games as it had left the Commonwealth. On 12 August 12, 1964, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned South Africa from participating in the Olympic Games in response to the country’s apartheid policies. Even though South Africa was not participating in major international multi sports competitions, its cricket team toured Australia in 1963-64 and on the 3 February 1964, they played against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval where it was defeated. The South African rugby team toured Australia in 1965.

It was in the late 1960’s after Menzies had resigned that Gorton and McMahon governments came under pressure to ban South African touring national sporting teams.

In 1970, Menzies commented on the decision to cancel the South Africa cricket tour of England due to anti-apartheid movement protests.[98]

This is giving way to threats of a noisy minority who seek to deny people their lawful right to go and see a match-whoever is, playing. This right is ‘now being threatened with the connivance of the Government. I find this a most serious threat to the future because it puts on violence and the threat of violence. 

If these protesters think they are helping the Bantu and the coloured in South Africa by this business they have a lot to learn. The more you isolate South Africa, the more disposed they will be to remain isolated.  I would have thought that was elementary commonsense of these people obviously don’t have. They are injuring friends, they are damaging cricket gravely and they are threatening — and successfully, threaten the rule of law.

The pressure to ban South African national sporting teams visit to Australia became a significant issue for the McMahon government with the visit by the South African rugby team in mid-1971. The significant protests and trade union travel bans during the rugby tour led to the cancellation of the proposed cricket tour in late 1971. 

Lake Burley Griffin

The establishment of a lake was part of Walter Burley Griffin’s successful plan in 1912 for the development of Canberra. However, two World Wars and the Great Depression placed the development of a lake on the backburner for federal governments. There were frequent reports on the future design of the lake that would have submerged major sports facilities in Canberra – Acton sports grounds, Canberra racecourse and Royal Canberra Golf Course. It was noted that politically influential members of the Royal Canberra Golf Club that included prime minister Joseph Lyons as president lobbied against the lake because it would submerge the golf course.

Menzies developed a strong interest in the development of Canberra, particularly after his second appointment as prime minister from 1949 where he spent long periods in The Lodge.  In the mid 1950’s, Menzies championed the development of a lake and in 1957, the newly created National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) restored the West Lake to its plans. In 1959, the Menzies government committed funds to the construction of the lake, that it was to be named Lake Burley Griffin. Menzies officially commemorated stage one after the filling of the Lake, on 17 October 1964 at a ceremony at Regatta Point. His speech highlighted his long interest it its development and obstacles including Lyons along the way:[99]

The creation of this lake is the result of a pretty long struggle. I remember being very much in favour of it in the late thirties, but I was a humble, miserable out-voted Attorney-General at that time a and there were powerful forces arrayed against me because there was a golf course and all the Heads of all the Departments belonged to it, and they took a fine pride in making the then Prime Minister the President of the Club and I fought an uphill battle for a long time. But after the war when I had an opportunity in my own right, I began to come back to this project because I have always believed, and never more than today- that you can’t have a great city unless you have water in It.

Before the lake was opened, Royal Canberra Golf Course was moved to a nearby arboretum that would have the lake as its foreshore and Canberra racecourse was moved to the northern outskirts of the city. The Acton sports grounds that were frequently flooded became redundant with the development of sports grounds on the north and the south of the city.

The establishment of Lake Burley Griffin led to the establishment on two major sports – rowing and sailing being available in Canberra. The Canberra Yacht Club was established in 1959 with the prospect of the lake. Previously sailors ventured north to Lake George, which was a problematic location to the rise and fall of the lake due to drought. In 2025, there are several yacht clubs – Canberra Yacht Club, Sea Scouts Sailing Club and YMCA Sailing Club. Australian championships for smaller boats have been held on the Lake. In November 1963, NSW Rowing Association made the decision to establish the ACT Rowing Association. From 30 April to 2 May 1964, the Australian Rowing Championship and Olympic Trials were held on the lake.  The existence of a rowing course on the Lake led to the Australian Institute of Sport basing its rowing program there from January 1985. Whilst the Lake no longer hosts senior national rowing championships, it has hosted university and masters championships. Dragon boat racing commenced in 1990 and now had a facility and course in the Lake’s East Basin. In 2006, the Robert Menzies Walk created and in 2012 a bronze sculpture of Menzies unveiled on the Lake foreshore to recognise his significant contribution to the development of Canberra and the Lake.

Menzies and Sporting Relationships

Letters held in the Menzies Collection at the National Library of Australia and newspaper reports highlight his frequent correspondence and meetings with prominent Australian and overseas athletes and sport administrators. The length of his prime ministership would have facilitated the depth of many of the relationships. His sincere interest and passion for sport would have played a role in their relationships.  In addition, the 1950’s and 1960’s were a highly successful period in Australian sport and there were many high profile Australian international athletes. These have been highlighted throughout this article.  Menzies developed a strong friendship with Walter Lindrum, who held the World Professional Billiards Championship from 1933 until his retirement in 1950.Fred Daly commented:  [100]

The late Walter Lindrum — grand Australian and the greatest billiardist ever known — was a close friend of the Prime Minister. Towards the end of the billiards tournament — generally in the budget session — he would arrange for Walter to travel from Melbourne, stay at the Lodge as his guest, play exhibitions at the House and present the trophies. Lindrum enjoyed it immensely and so did the members.

Conclusion

As of 2026, it is argued that Menzies is the Australian prime minister with the greatest interest in sport – particularly cricket, tennis and Australian football. Menzies enjoyed the technique, skills, strategies and traditions of these sports. He was an avid reader of sports books highlighted by his extensive library collection and was willing to express his knowledge and opinions in speeches or writings.  His second stint as prime minister followed World War II where Australia was undergoing significant change due to economic reconstruction and migration from Europe. Menzies understood how sport was important within Australia in this period. He became to realise how sport assisted in maintaining relationships within a declining Commonwealth and improving relationships the United States through Davis Cup and America’s Cup rivalries. This was highlighted in a speech at the Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association Of Australia dinner in 1964. He stated: [101]

As you move around the world, as I do from time to time at your expense, once a year, sometimes twice a year you really become astonished to realise how many of these sporting activities,
games activities, are going on which tend to bring nations
together. Sometimes they don’t of course, sometimes there is a
bit of a brawl and of course a brawl is something that is
completely foreign to my nature. But by and large, all round the
world there are more and more people who think of another

country.

in terms of their own particular sport, whether it is racing,
whether it’s cricket, whether it’s soccer, whether it’s football,
whatever it may be, and this is to me one of the great hopes of
the world because I don’t believe that we will ever solve i

nternational problems by cold reason.

International sport during Menzies time as prime minister became increasingly political with country boycotts of major sporting events including the 1956 Olympic Games.

His government supported two major international multi-sport events in Australia – 1956 Olympic Games and 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. These events profiled Australia’s sporting reputation throughout the world. Financial support of Olympic and Empire teams was often criticised as being unsatisfactory. Menzies view of sport was that government should have limited involvement, and its financial support and organisation should be primarily by the community and individuals. The move to professionalism in sport was a concern of Menzies, particularly the impact of Jack Kraemer’s professional tennis circuit on the Davis Cup.

Menzies developed many personal friendships within the sporting community, and this was widely known throughput the Australian community. Menzies won Australian federal elections in 1949, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1959, 1961 and 1963 – these elections were often won under a difficult economic climate or international political events. Menzies was regarded as “highly effective populist campaigner, appealing to ordinary citizens”.[102] His genuine love of sport most likely assisted him in appealing to ordinary citizens. Menzies started the trend of prime ministers frequently being seen with successful athletes, teams and attending major sporting events.

Finally, being a spectator or reading sports books, provided him with an escapism from onerous and difficult political duties. At sporting events, he was not interested in talking about political matters but events on the field of play. His view was that sport was a distraction from day to day life, and this can be seen from his dictum that sport continued to be played during World War II.

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I am happy to accept feedback – corrections or additional information. My contact details.

 References

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[1] Online biographies – Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Archives of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy

[2] Ronald Seth, Robert Menzies, Cassell, 1960, p. 38-39

[3] Sir Robert Was Always The Gentleman Amongst The Players, The Canberra Times. 17 May 1978, p. 2

[4] Selth, p. 13

[5] Gideon Haigh, The Big Ship: Warwick Armstrong and the Making of Modern Cricket, Aurum Press, 2003.

[6] Ashes” And The Tests, The Age (Melbourne, Vic), 8 March 1938, p. 13

[7] A.W. Martin, Robert Menzies: A Life, Vol 1 1894-1943, Melbourne University Press, 1992, p. 222

[8] Cricket Hit By Critics,  The News (Adelaide, SA), 19 September 1935, p.25 

[9] Why Mr. Menzies Has A Grievance, The News (Adelaide, SA), 1 August 1936, p. 1

[10] All Most Odd,  Examiner (Launceston, Tas), 1 July 1938, p. 14 

[11] Here, There & Everywhere,  The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic.), 13 February 1942, p. 7

[12] Mr. Menzies In England, Sunday Times (Perth, WA), 18 July 1948, p. 1

[13] Evatt, Menzies See Match,  Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW), 12 August 1948, P. 16

[14] Knighthood For Bradman Tipped, The Sun (Sydney, NSW), 28 July 1948, p. 1  

[15] Menzies 1948 Journey, Reel 2 (1948), Australian Screen: An NFSA website

[16] Menzies Seeks Tanks Un U.K,  Brisbane Telegraph, 31 May 1952, p. 6 

[17] Mr. Menzies Sees Hutton Score,  The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 16 June 1952, p. 5 

[18] Cricket Fan Bob Was Happy As Schoolboy, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld), 25 May 1953, p. 1

[19] Mr. Menzies And Mr. Nehru See Test Cricket, The Canberra Times, 25 June 1956, p. 12

[20] Robert Menzies: After Office, National Archive of Australia website

[21] Vice-Regal Ambitions Denied By Sir Robert, The Canberra Times, 20 June 1964, p.

[22] Robert Menzies, Cricket – An Enduring Art,Wisden Cricket Almanac, 1963 published in Cricinfo

[23] Heather Henderson, A Smile for My Parents, Allen and Unwin, 2013 p. 125

[24] Don Selth. The Prime Minister’s XI: The Story of the Prime Minister’s XI Matches Menzies to Hawke. The Author, 1990.

[25] Visitors Give Good Exhibition 11,000 See M.C.C. Win Match At Manuka, The Canberra Times, 7 February 1963, p. 40

[26] Brett Hutchins, Social‐Conservatism, Australian Politics And Cricket: The Triumvirate Of Prime Minister John Howard, Sir Robert Menzies And Sir Donald Bradman, Journal of Australian Studies, Volume 25, 2001, 56-66

[27] Sir Robert Menzies, Afternoon Light: Some Memories of Men and Events, Cassell, 1967, p 352-3

[28]Ric Sissons, and Brian Stoddart, Allen & Unwin, 1984, p. 108

[29] Menzies, Robert. Letter to A.R. Barnes, 22 February 1962, Papers of Sir Robert Menzies, 1905-1978, National Library of Australia

[30]  Menzies, Robert. Letter to W.H. Jeanes, 65 March 1953, Papers of Sir Robert Menzies, 1905-1978, National Library of Australia

[31]  Foot, Hugh. Letter to Robert Menzies, 21 June 1955, Papers of Sir Robert Menzies, 1905-1978, National Library of Australia

[32] Menzies, Robber. Letter to Keith Miller, 8 March 1956, Papers of Sir Robert Menzies, 1905-1978, National Library of Australia

[33] A.W. Martin, Sir Robert Gordon (Bob) Menzies (1894–1978), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University.

[34] The Robert Menzies Collection: A Living Library, University of Melbourne

[35] Ashes 1953: Robert Menzies hosts a party full of steaks, wine and poetry, CricketMASH, 6 August 2000

[36] Kevin Perkins, Menzies: Last of the Queen’s Men.  1968, p.181-185

[37] About People, The Age (Melbourne, Vic), 11 June 1941, p. 8

[38] Final Davis Cup Matches Today, The Mercury (Hobart, Tas), 30 December 1946, p. 14 

[39] P.M. Cables Tennis Men, The News (Adelaide, SA), 28 August 1950, p. 2

[40] Pig-iron’ Bob, tennis coach, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic), 6 December 1954, p.

[41] My Game; forewords by Adrian Quinn and Harry Hopman, Robert Menzies Institute

[42] The Spectacle of Sport, Robert Menzies Institute

[43] Mabel Brookes, Crowded Galleries, Heinemann, 1956 p. 282-283

[44] Robert Menzies’ Partner: Pattie Menzies, National Archives of Australia website

[45] Australian tennis historian provided information on Menzies and tennis.

[46] Menzies and Poetry, Robert Menzies Institute 

[47] Ashley Browne, Pies, Blues, Labor, Liberal, And Election Day Footy: A Short History Of Party Politics And Two Big Melbourne Clubs, AFL website, 2 July 2016

[48] Zachary Gorman, Week 52: Carlton Story, Menzies Institute, 2022

[49] It’s On Again Tomorrow! The Argus (Melbourne, Vic), 18 April 1952, p.3  

[50]  Henderson, p. 127

[51] Time Off For Clerks – If They Play The Game,  The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW,) p. 1.

[52] Bluesmuseum, Almanac Footy History: When Carlton Conquered Canberra, Footy Almanac, 28 February 2023

[53] Message From Mr. Menzies, The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 6 May 1939, p. 30:

^[54]  Drive-in at the Football?,  Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 12 September 1972, p. 6

[55] 1973 – Sir Robert Menzies, Menzies Virtual Museum

[56] Bridget Griffen-Foley, Playing with Princes and Presidents: Sir Frank Packer and the 1962 Challenge for the America’s Cup, Australian Journal of Politics and History, V46 (1), March 2000, Pages 51-66

[57] Bridget Griffen-Foley

[58] Bridget Griffen-Foley

[59] David McNicoll, Gretel The Inside Story Of The Challenge, The Bulletin, V84 (4309), 15 Sept 1962, p.12-18 

[60] Bridget Griffen-Foley,

[61] Australian Cup Hopes High,  The Canberra Times, 20 September 1962, p. 1

[62] America’s Cup Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 2 October 1962, p. 984

[63] Eddie Ward, Speech,  House of Representatives Hansard, 3 October 1962, p. 1087-1089

[64] Glittering Dinner On America’s Cup Eve, The Australian Women’s Weekly, 26 September 1962, p. 15

[65] America’s Cup Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 22 October 1962, p. 1851

[66] British Pathe, Menzies Names New Yacht, 1967.

[67] Sir Robert Looks the Cup Over, The Canberra Times, 13 September 1967, p. 32

[68] A.W. Martin, Robert Menzies: A Life. Volume 2, 1944-1978, Melbourne University Press, 1999, p. 553

[69] Heather Menzies, p. 128-131

[70] Robert Menzies, Adjournment, House of Representatives Hansard, 7 November 1950, p. 2020

[71] Greg Hartung. The Great Arm Wrestle: Australian Sport Policy Since 1939.Halstead Press, 2023, p.11-27

^[72] Menzies Announces War, 3 September 1939, Robert Menzies Institute /

[73] Football Record, 9 September 1939, p. 9

[74] No Reason To Stop Sport,  Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.), 5 June 1940, p. 1

^[75] 1949 ‘Games Dispute’ Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.)  8 June, p. 1

[76]  Political Leaders First Won Laurels At Sport ,  The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 1 September 1951, p. 3

[77] Harry Gordon, Australia and the Olympic Games, University of Queensland Press, 1994, p.196

[78] 1952 ‘Firm Decisions On Olympic Games, The Age (Melbourne, Vic), 20 March 1952, p. 1

[79] Debra Reeves, The 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Victorian Parliamentary Library, 2016

[80] Reeves, The 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne.

[81] 1955 , The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.,   12 April 1955, p. 4

[82] Robert Menzies, Olympic Games Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 18 March 1953, p.1250-1252

[83] Robert Menzies, Olympic Games Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 3 November 1954, p. 2546

[84] Prime Minister, Games President, The Beverley Times (WA), 9 September 1955, p. 6

[85] Olympic athletes from Communist countries – secret letter to Prime Minister Robert Menzies,National Archives of Australia

[86] Anne, Kenney, Athletes Seek Asylum At Almost Every Games, As Is Their Right, Murdoch University News, 13 April 2018

[87] The Official Report Of The Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVI Olympiad Melbourne 1956, Government Printer, 1958, p.14

[88] Greg Blood, The Relationship between the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission,  Sporting Traditions, V35 (1) May 2018, p.55-77

[89]  Empire Games; Federal Grant,  The Age (Melbourne, Vic.), 20 May 1954, p. 8

[90] Like It Or Lump It, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), 2 May 1954, p. 35.

[91] Unions Condemn Menzies on Empire Games,  Tribune (Sydney, NSW), 30 April 1958, p. 3.

[92] 1958 ‘Empire Games Team To Fly By Qantas, The Canberra Times, 4 June, p. 21

[93] Robert Menzies, Empire Games Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 29 April 1958, p.1198

[94] £100,000 To Back Empire Games, The Canberra Times, 15 April 1958, p.

[95]Harold Holt, Empire Games at Perth Question, House of Representatives Hansard, 25 August 1960, p. 407

[96] 1962 Games Site tour by Robert Menzies, National Film and Sound Archive

[97] Michelle Grattan (ed), Australian Prime Ministers, New Holland, 2000 p. 201

^[98] Sir Robert Decries Stopping Of Tour, The Canberra Times, 25 May 1970, p. 1

[99] Robert Menzies, Inauguration Of Lake Burley Grif R Ffin, Canberra, A.C.T, 17th October1964 – Speech, Prime Minister Transcripts, Dept of Prime Minister and Cabinet

[100] Sir Robert Was Always The Gentleman Amongst The Players, The Canberra Times, 17 May 1978, p. 2

[101] Robert Menzies, Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association Of Australia – Dinner At Hotel Australia, Sydney – 23rd March 1964, PM Transcipts, Dept. of Prime Minister and Cabinet

[102] Australia’s Prime Minister two times, National Museum of Australia website

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