Nationalist Party (Australia)

The National Party was formed in 1917 by Hughes from the pro conscription elements in the Labor Party and the Liberal Party led by Sir Joseph Cook. It was replaced as the main anti-labor Party in 1931 by the United Australia Party.

From the description of Handbill [manuscript]. 1919. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 225840981

The Nationalist Party of Australia was the result of a merger of the National Labor Party and the Commonwealth Liberal Party in January 1917 by the Prime Minister Billy Hughes, in part as a war time expedient. Some states and individuals regarded this as a permanent fusion, others did not. The Party remained in existence after the end of World War I, but from 1919 became more conservative in outlook. In 1923, the Nationalists formed a coalition with the Country Party, with Stanley Bruce (Nationalist, Prime Minister) and Earle Page (Country Party, Treasurer). Electoral defeat in 1929 marked the end of the power and influence of the Nationalist Party, after which it was absorbed into the new United Australia Party under Joseph Lyons.

From the description of Minute book of the Nationalist Party of Australia, 1918-1968 (bulk 1918-1920) [manuscript]. [1918-1968] (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 695902684