AUSTRALIA'S 17TH PRIME MINISTER HAROLD HOLT
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1908 - Born August 5 at Stanmore, Sydney
1930 - Graduates as a lawyer
1934 - Loses to former prime minister James Scullin for the seat of Yarra in federal parliament. Also unsuccessfully contests an election for the Victorian parliament
1935 - Wins the seat of Fawkner as the United Australia Party (UAP) candidate, holds the seat in the next four elections
1940 - Enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, but after five months in the army prime minister Robert Menzies recalls Holt to parliament
1940 - Becomes minister for labour and national service and minister in charge of scientific and industrial research
1946 - Marries Zara Fell and adopts her three sons
1949 - Switches to the seat of Higgins due to electorate redistributions. Holds the seat until his death
1949 - Adds immigration to his portfolio
1951 - Introduces conscription to the army for all males aged 18
1956 - Becomes leader of the House of Representatives and deputy Liberal leader
1958 - Takes over as treasurer, holds position for the next seven years
1966 - January 26, becomes prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party on Menzies' retirement
1966 - Visits the US to discuss Vietnam war, adopts slogan 'All the way with LBJ'
1966 - Introduces decimal currency
1966 (November 26) - Wins election on a pro-Vietnam platform
1966 - Introduces the Migration Act of 1966, effectively dismantling the White Australia policy and increasing access to non-European migrants
1967 - Australians vote 'yes' in a referendum to count Indigenous Australians counted in the national census.
1967 (December 17) - Disappears while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria
1967 (December 19) - Pronounced dead
1967 (December 22) - Memorial service held at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. Attended by US president Lyndon B Johnson, Prince Charles, UK prime minister Harold Wilson and other heads of state and government
1968 - A joint report by Commonwealth and Victoria Police concludes "... there has been no indication that the disappearance of the late Mr Holt was anything other than accidental"
Source: National Museum of Australia
