After a number of rural parties sprang up during the late 1800’s, the federal Country Party was founded in 1920 by Tasmania’s William McWilliams. In his first speech as leader, McWilliams announced the Party’s principles, stating:
“we crave no alliance, we spurn no support but we intend drastic action to secure closer attention to the needs of primary producers”
The separate state parties had been gaining individual traction before this, but now we had become united in our vision for a stronger, fairer Australia.
Our message resonated with people across regional Australia. We won 14 seats – 12.5% of votes – in the 1922 election and formed government with the Nationalist Party (a predecessor to the Liberals), commencing a partnership which has undergone continued evolution but endures today.
The Party has continued to develop over the past century, but our heart remains in rural Australia, its regional towns and its cities. Our first priority is and always has been to the people who live and work in these communities.
In 1977 the Party changed its name to the National Country Party and following that, the National Party in October 1982.
Victorian Nationals
In Victoria, The Nationals first entered Parliament in 1917 as the Victorian Farmers Union, led by John Allan, they gained 4 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Allen later became Australia’s first Country Party Premier. Today, the Victorian Nationals are representative of regional cities, towns and rural communities throughout Victoria and hold 7 seats in the Legislative Assembly and 2 in the Legislative Council.
The Victorian Nationals in government have a proud record of investing in regional communities. Unquestionably the most recent achievement was the $1 Billion Regional Growth Fund, which has been exclusively dedicated to creating jobs and improving infrastructure in partnership with locals.
The Victorian Nationals have always embraced the contribution of women in politics. Shirley McKerrow was appointed State President in 1976. She was the first female in Australia to lead the administration of a major political party at a State level and in 1981 she was appointed Federal President and became the first female Federal President of any political party in Australia.
Leaders of the National Party Victoria
2015 – Present
Peter Walsh
Leader of the National Party
1999 – 2015
Peter Ryan
Deputy Premier
1988 – 1999
Pat McNamara
Deputy Premier
1970 – 1988
Peter Ross-Edwards
Leader of the National Party
1964 – 1970
George Moss
Leader of the Country Party
1955 – 1964
Herbert Hyland
Leader of the Country Party
1945 – 1955
John McDonald
Premier
1935 – 1945
Albert Dunstan
Premier
1933 – 1935
Murray Bourchier
Deputy Premier
1917 – 1933
John Allan
Premier
Looking to the Future
After a century’s journey, we still believe that political representation of the regions is vital, with many of Victoria’s families, natural resources and primary industries being outside of metropolitan Melbourne.
Regional communities today are more diverse than before, and so are we. Our members and parliamentarians are mothers, teachers, business owners, barristers, football players and of course, farmers.
We believe that now, more than ever, what happens in regional Victoria matters for the whole state. This belief has underpinned our achievements in government and it is what drives us into the future.