Parliamentary Library Lecture: A Great Pioneer John Christian 'Chris' Watson
The First Eight Project launched in early 2018 as a joint undertaking between the Australian Parliamentary Library, the National Museum of Australia, the National Archives of Australia, the Victorian Parliamentary Library and the Australian National University Australian Studies Institute.
The Australian Studies Institute (AuSI) was delighted to present the First Eight Project lecture series at Parliament House, with Dr David Headon, AuSI Foundation Fellow speaking about Prime Minister John Christian 'Chris' Watson. Watch the lecture in full: A Great Pioneer - John Christian 'Chris' Watson by David Headon.
“Chris Watson deserves a comprehensive biography, for he was a complex and important Australian, a man of talent and, we are reliably informed, disarming charisma. He earned a reputation in politics for getting things done.” - Dr Headon
Chris Watson (1867-1941) was Australia’s third prime minister. Though his term lasted a bare four months during 1904, he established a number of ‘firsts’, most notably that he led the world’s first national labour/Labor government and, taking office aged 37, he remains our country’s youngest prime minister–and controversially, the only one not born in either Australia or Britain. When Watson died in 1941 (having been out of politics by choice for over 30 years), new Prime Minister John Curtin, about to write himself indelibly into the national story, stated in parliament that his good friend Chris was ‘a great pioneer’.
He was, and yet with Watson a number of questions arise: about his birth details, parents’ details and formative years in Australia; about his personal beliefs, values, distinguished career in politics and his small yet significant role in the disastrous Labor Party split in 1916-17 over conscription; and about his contested place in the pantheon of Labor leaders.
Watson was a great pioneer, and the many roads he chose to travel in a rich and eventful life have left us with a story full of surprises, crises, contradictions and vicissitudes.
"He has been described as the 'godfather of Canberra' (Greg Wood) for his passion and role in determining Australia's capital city. Watson has not received the credit for Canberra's selection that he so richly deserves." - Dr Headon
About the Speaker
David Headon is a cultural consultant and historian. Formerly Director of the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies, Cultural Adviser to the National Capital Authority and History and Heritage Adviser for the Centenary of Canberra, he is now a Foundation Fellow at the ANU Australian Studies Institute, a Parliamentary Library Associate and the Canberra Raiders club historian.
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