Vale Queen Elizabeth II
David Rowe
When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, David Rowe reminded us of one of the more controversial Australian events in which Her Majesty had been caught up: the dismissal of Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in November 1975. Two years after the letters exchanged between Governor-General Sir John Kerr and the Palace were released, some historians and commentators still have questions regarding exactly how much the Queen knew at the time.
You may also be interested in...
1999: Republic referendum
In 1999 Australia voted no to replacing the Queen as our head of state with a president.
Become a tour venue
We love talking to new venues about hosting our Behind the Lines political cartoon exhibition.
1977: National Song Poll
Australians were asked to pick a song for the national anthem in 1977.
The sizzling history of the democracy sausage
Barbecue snags and voting explained.
'We've been sacked': the 1975 Whitlam government dismissal
For the first time in Australian history, a governor-general dismissed a prime minister and government.
1928: State debts
The 1928 referendum asked Australians to change the way finances were managed by the Commonwealth and states.