Today, December 10, is the single most popular day for federal elections in the history of the Australian federation.
Federal elections were held on this day in 1949, 1955 and 1977.
All three elections held on December 10 resulted in substantial victories to the Coalition.
In 1949, Robert Menzies swept the Chifley government out after 8 years of Labor rule.
In 1955, in the aftermath of the ALP Split, Menzies called an early election and won his fourth consecutive victory.
In 1977, Malcolm Fraser won a second term in office, defeating Gough Whitlam in a near-repeat of his 1975 landslide.
December is also the single most popular month for federal elections. Twelve of the 44 federal elections since 1901 (27%) have been held in December. The last was on December 1, 1984.
Two elections have been held on December 13, in 1919 and 1975. Two elections have also been held on December 16, in 1903 and 1922. Two elections have been held on August 21, in 1943 and 2010.
