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Early Australian Politics Trivia Quiz

This quiz contains questions about pre-1930 Australian politics.

A multiple-choice quiz by abcdefghijkl. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
abcdefghijkl

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
61,874

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
633

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia, 1901-1902? Hint

Sir Edmund Barton

Sir John Forrest

Sir Alfred Deakin

Sir Robert Menzies

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who was the first ever Governor-General of Australia? Hint

William Ward, Earl of Dudley

Alexander Hore-Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie

John Baird, Baron Stonehaven

John Hope, Earl of Hopetoun

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who was the first ever Labor Prime Minister? Hint

J.C. Watson

P.J. Keating

G.H. Reid

J.B. Chifley

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who was the first Premier of the state of Western Australia (elected in 1890)? Hint

Andrew Fisher

Lt. Gov. James Stirling

Sir George Mitchell

Sir John Forrest

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was the Prime Minister of Australia at the outbreak of World War One, having been elected in June 1914? Hint

Joseph Cook

William 'Billy' Hughes

Andrew Fisher

Sir Alfred Deakin

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who succeeded William Hughes as Prime Minister of Australia in 1922? Hint

Stanley M. Bruce

John J. Curtin

James Scullin

Joseph Cook

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the Australian Prime Minister at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929? Hint

Stanley M. Bruce

William Hughes

Joseph Cook

James Scullin

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Question 8 of 10

8. What party was in government at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929? Hint

Communist Party

United Australia Party

Australian Labor Party

Nationalist Party

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was known as 'The Father of Federation' because of his efforts in convincing other state leaders to hold referenda about federation? Hint

Sir Henry Parkes

Sir Edmond Barton

Sir John Forrest

Sir John Kerr

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was the first Prime Minister from Australia's Free Trade Party (elected in 1904)? Hint

Sir Edmond Barton

George Reid

Joseph Cook

J.C. Watson

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia, 1901-1902?

Answer: Sir Edmund Barton

Barton was a lawyer before he entered parliament. He won power as leader of the Protectionist party and remained Prime Minister for 18 months before resigning to become a High Court judge.

2. Who was the first ever Governor-General of Australia?

Answer: John Hope, Earl of Hopetoun

All of these distinguished gentlemen served as Governor-General of Australia during the first half of the twentieth century, but John Hope was the first. He served for only 18 months, from 1 January 1901 to 17 July 1902.

3. Who was the first ever Labor Prime Minister?

Answer: J.C. Watson

Watson was elected in 1903 by Parliament after a vote of no confidence in then Prime Minister Alfred Deakin.

4. Who was the first Premier of the state of Western Australia (elected in 1890)?

Answer: Sir John Forrest

Forrest was also well known as an explorer. He later became a Federal minister.

5. Who was the Prime Minister of Australia at the outbreak of World War One, having been elected in June 1914?

Answer: Joseph Cook

Cook got voted out soon after the outbreak of war. The ALP's Andrew
Fisher became Prime Minister. He later resigned due to bad health, and William Hughes took over. In 1917, Hughes broke away from the ALP and formed the conservative Nationalist Party.

6. Who succeeded William Hughes as Prime Minister of Australia in 1922?

Answer: Stanley M. Bruce

After the election, the Country Party withdrew support from Hughes, forcing him to resign and make way for Bruce.

7. Who was the Australian Prime Minister at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929?

Answer: James Scullin

Scullin was the first Labor Prime Minister since Hughes. He lost government in 1932 after an election defeat at the hands of defector Joseph Lyons.

8. What party was in government at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929?

Answer: Australian Labor Party

James Scullin (mentioned in the previous section) was Prime Minister of this government.

9. Who was known as 'The Father of Federation' because of his efforts in convincing other state leaders to hold referenda about federation?

Answer: Sir Henry Parkes

Parkes worked for the federal cause all through the 1890s until his death.

10. Who was the first Prime Minister from Australia's Free Trade Party (elected in 1904)?

Answer: George Reid

George Reid was the first and last Prime Minister from the Free Trade Party.

Source: Author abcdefghijkl

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