 Country Party leader John McEwen served as Prime Minister from 19 December 1967 to 10 January 1968, pending the election of a new leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
(meta data) TITLE:  John McEwen - Australia's PMs - Australia's Prime Ministers (meta data) PUBLISHER: corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600; contact=+61 2 6212 3600 Site map | Glossary | Contact us # AUSTRALIA'S PRIME MINISTERS ##### Choose another PM Year1901–03 Barton1903–04 Deakin1904–04 Watson1904–05 Reid1905–08 Deakin1908–09 Fisher1909–10 Deakin1910–13 Fisher1913–14 Cook1914–15 Fisher1915–23 Hughes1923–29 Bruce1929–32 Scullin1932–39 Lyons1939–39 Page1939–41 Menzies1941–41 Fadden1941–45 Curtin1945–45 Forde1945–49 Chifley1949–66 Menzies1966–67 Holt1967–68 McEwen1968–71 Gorton1971–72 McMahon1972–75 Whitlam1975–83 Fraser1983–91 Hawke1991–96 Keating1996–07 Howard2007–10 Rudd2010–13 Gillard2013–13 Rudd2013–15 Abbott2015–18 Turnbull2018– Morrison Home > Australia's PMs > John McEwen # John McEwen John McEwen was Prime Minister from 19 December 1967 to 10 January 1968 following the death of Harold Holt. His term as Prime Minister came near the end of his 37 years in parliament. The moment of office: John McEwen is sworn in by Governor-General Lord Casey at Yarralumla on 19 December 1967. NAA: A1200, L68079 Though only briefly Prime Minister, McEwen served as deputy Prime Minister for twelve years, in the governments of Robert Menzies, Harold Holt and John Gorton. He was acting Prime Minister many times in the years from 1958 to 1971. McEwen held the key ministerial responsibilities of Commerce and Trade for 20 years from 1949 to 1971. During this time the portfolio emphasis moved away from agriculture and into the broader industry area. Though a farmer and Country Party leader, McEwen also moved the emphasis from low tariffs to protection of manufacturing industries. Back to top ##### Plus > Fast facts on John McEwen > Timeline: significant events for John McEwen ##### Find records The researcher's portal to records on Australia's prime ministers Search for institutions with records on John McEwen
train19337
Holt Government
Death of Holt.
On 17 December 1967, Holt disappeared in heavy surf while swimming off Cheviot Beach, near Melbourne, becoming the third Australian Prime Minister to die in office. He was not formally declared missing until 19 December.