House of Representatives Members – 25th Parliament 1963-1966

This is the full list of members of the House of Representatives (25th Parliament) elected on November 30, 1963.

The 1963 election was the seventh of nine victories for the coalition and the seventh of seven consecutive victories for Prime Minister Robert Menzies.

The Coalition came within one seat of losing in 1961. In 1963, a campaign built around State Aid to non-government schools and the future of the US North-West Cape facility in Australia enabled Menzies to win his last election victory. The election is remembered for the Liberal Party’s use of the “faceless men” label against the ALP. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy took place one week before the election. After 16 years as prime minister, Menzies retired in January 1966.

In a 122-seat House of Representatives, the Liberal Party won 52 seats (+7) and the Country Party 20 (+3), for a coalition total of 72 (+10). The ALP won 50 seats (-10), wiping out most of its gains from 1916. The government secured a majority of 22 seats.

The Liberal Party won 37.09% of the primary vote (+3,51%), the Country Party 8.94% (+0.43%) and the ALP 45.47% (-2.43%). The estimated two-party-preferred vote for the coalition was 52.60%, with the ALP on 47.40%, a swing against the ALP of 3.10%.

The Democratic Labor Party polled 7.44% of the primary vote (-1.27%), its preferences again contributing to the Coalition’s win, especially in Victoria.

Because the election was called a year early, there was no accompanying half-Senate election. There were separate half-Senate elections in 1964, 1967 and 1970. House and Senate elections were brought back into line in 1974 and have remained that way since.

The members for the Northern Territory (Jock Nelson-ALP) and the Australian Capital Territory (Jim Fraser-ALP) did not have voting rights, other than on matters affecting their territory. They are counted as members on the list below but not included in the seat tallies shown above.

There were seven by-elections during the life of the 25th Parliament, all in coalition seats.

The Liberal Party retained the seat of Denison after the death of Athol Townley. It retained the seats of Angas, Parramatta and Robertson, after the resignations of the sitting members. Sir Garfield Barwick was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court. Alexander Downer was appointed High Commissioner to London. Following the retirement of Sir Robert Menzies, the by-election for Kooyong was won by Andrew Peacock.

The Country Party retained Riverina after Hugh Roberton resigned. However, it lost Dawson to the ALP’s Dr Rex Patterson, after George Shaw died.

The table below shows 131 members, reflecting all who served in the parliament.

There are three members of the 25th Parliament still living:
1. Dr Wylie Gibbs, Liberal (Bowman-Qld), 102
2. Peter Nixon, Country Party (Gippsland-Vic), 96
3. Ian Sinclair, Country Party (New England-NSW), 95

The most recent deaths were:
2024: Tom Hughes, 101
2024: Manfred Cross, 94
2023: Bill Hayden, 90
2021: Andrew Peacock, 82
2020: Doug Anthony, 90
2019: Dr Jim Forbes, 95
2017: Len Bosman, 93, and Ian Robinson, 91

The table below lists members by their party affiliation, seat, term and age.

• Links to other Parliamentary Lists