National Archives' records

Our collection includes records from Harold Holt's time as prime minister and member of parliament.

This is a selection of records from our collection, including Commonwealth records and Holt's personal papers (CP 27).

• Briefcase, wallets and related personal papers of Harold Holt, 1924­–97 (series M4298)
• Press cuttings booklet of Harold Holt, 1926­–67 (series A1728)
• Correspondence files maintained by Holt as Prime Minister, 1929­–67 (series M2684)
• Ministerial correspondence collected by Harold Holt, 1935­–40 (series B3230)
• General correspondence files relating to Harold Holt as Assistant Minister for Supply and Development, 1939­–40 (series B3229)
• Papers relating to youth unemployment maintained by HE Holt as Assistant Minister for Supply and Development, 1939­–40 (series MP392/4)
• Personal papers of Harold Holt, 1941­–67 (series M4299)
• Correspondence files of HE Holt as Treasurer and Prime Minister, 1943­–67 (series M2606)
• Personal papers of Harold Edward Holt, 1943­–68 (series M4295)
• Folders of speeches and articles, 1946­–65 (series M2607)
• Folders of minutes of the meetings and related documents of the Organising Committee for the XVIth Olympiad and sub-Committees, 1950­–57 (series M946)
• Correspondence files of HE Holt as Treasurer, 1950­–66 (series M2568)
• Travel diaries and letters of Harold Holt, 1952­–65 (series M2608)
• Pen sketches of Harold Holt and William McMahon by Paul Hasluck, 1959 (series A2668)
• Press cuttings relating to the Seven Nation Summit conference, Manila, Philippines, 24-25 October 1966, 1966 (series A1664)
• Set of two facsimile manuscripts by Jose Rizal presented by the President of the Philippines and Mrs Ferdinand E Marcos, 1966 (series A1666)
• Press cuttings regarding the Commonwealth prime ministers' conference, 1966 (series A1729)
• Press cuttings relating to Holt's succession as Prime Minister, 1966 (series A1730)
• Folders of papers maintained by Holt while Prime Minister, 1966­–67 (series M2684)
• Correspondence files of the Prime Minister relating to foreign affairs, 1966­–67 (series A7854)
• Press reports on the visit of Holt to the Republic of China, 4-6 April, 1967 (series A1665)
• Appointment diaries maintained by Private Secretary, 1967 (series A2587)
• Appointment diary maintained by Assistant Private Secretary, 1967 (series A2588)
• Papers contained in the briefcase of Holt at the time of his death, 1967 (series M1945)
• Speeches and related papers of HE Holt, 1967 (series M4249)
• Condolence letters and books sent on the death of the Rt Hon. HE Holt, 1967­–68 (series M2655)

You can search a collection of Australian prime ministerial transcripts dating from the early 1940s on PM Transcripts.

Research guide

For details of the records on Harold and Zara Holt held by the National Archives and other institutions, you can use Harold Holt: guide to archives of Australia's prime ministers.

Biography

For further reading, we recommend The life and death of Harold Holt, a book by Tom Frame.