Who they were
Menzies first became prime minister in 1939 but was forced out during the war. He founded the Liberal Party in 1944 and, back in power from 1949, served as prime minister for more than sixteen further years.
What they did
His long tenure coincided with post-war economic growth and prosperity. He valued ties with Britain while also deepening the alliance with the United States in the Cold War and encouraging population growth through immigration.
Legacy
His total of about eighteen and a half years is the longest in Australian history. Menzies is remembered as the central figure of post-war conservative politics.