Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library
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The Bob Hawke Collection commemorates the achievements and legacy of Bob Hawke (1929-2019), Australia's second longest and longest serving Labor Prime Minister. The Bob Hawke Collection includes documents, photographs, audio visual material, books, memorabilia and objects from across his life and career. The Collection documents his personal family life, his work at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), as Member for Wills, and as Prime Minister; as well as his business, media, charitable, and scholarly pursuits after he resigned from Parliament. The Collection is housed in the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library at the University of South Australia City West Campus. |
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The Collection can be explored through searching the Special Collections Catalogue or browsing Collection Discovery. Digital copies of some items are available from the Catalogue, however archival material is not available for loan. Access to the Collection is by appointment, contact Ask the Library. Image above: Robert Hannaford. Hon RJL Hawke AC Prime Minister of Australia, oil on canvas, Adelaide 2000. |
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Biography of Bob Hawke
The Hon Robert James Lee (Bob) Hawke AC was born in Bordertown, South Australia in 1929. He was educated at the University of Western Australia, Oxford University and the Australian National University (ANU). Prior to completing his studies at ANU, Hawke joined the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) as a research officer, later becoming the ACTU president from 1973 to 1980.
Hawke joined the Australian Labor Party (ALP) while at university. He entered parliament in 1980 as the Member for Wills and in 1983 was elected as the ALP Leader. Later that year Hawke won the election and became Prime Minister. Under his leadership, the ALP went on to win the next three elections, making Hawke the longest-serving Labor prime minister in Australian history. Throughout his term, Hawke focused on public health care (establishing Medicare), education, human rights and reforms in economics, environmental policy and international affairs.
In 1991, Hawke resigned as Prime Minister and in 1992, he resigned from politics. The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre was established in 1997, along with the Hawke EU Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence and the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library. Hawke continued to lend a voice to national issues and remained a strong supporter of the Australian Labor Party until his death on 16 May 2019.
A journey through the archive
The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library (BHPML), as part of the University of South Australia Library and The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre presented a public talk and exhibition as part of the 2019 South Australia History Festival. The talk can be viewed in full in the video above.
From the archive
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL delivering a passionate speech.
Extract from Birth Entry, Robert James Lee Hawke, December 9th 1929.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL planing a tree in Wentworth, NSW on March 12th 1989.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with Mr Len Keogh, Member for Bowman, during the ALP Election Campaign 1984.
The Hon Julia Gillard AC with The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL, 2017 Annual Hawke Lecture, presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Photographer: Tony Lewis
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with the Hon Gough Whitlam AC QC at the official opening of the Hawke Building, 2007.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with Mr Len Keogh, Member for Bowman, alongside a collection of children's drawings given to Bob Hawke.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with Nelson Mandela, October 1990.
Premier of South Australia, John Bannon, recieves a cheque from The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with American President Ronald Regan at the White House in 1985.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL addressing a crowd after leading the Labour Day procession in Adelaide on October 11th 1980.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL seated on a replica of his beloved motorcycle.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL speaking at the official opening of the Hawke Building, 2007.
A 1999 Christmas card from Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip to The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL.
'Hawke Soars' The Bulletin, March 15th 1983 with election campaign memorabilia.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with Mr Bill Neidjie & friend, traditional custodians of the Kakadu area.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL playing cricket during a visit to the electorate of Burke.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL playing tennis at The Lodge in 1986 alongside Australian sporting memorabilia.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL Bob Hawke pictured with Dr. Kevin Threlfall, Geelong FC President.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL & wife Hazel pictured with American President George Bush & First Lady Barbara Bush.
The Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL pictured with Premier John Cain at the Australia Games announcement.
From the Collection
The Bob Hawke Collection has over a thousand digitized transcripts of speeches given by the Hon Bob Hawke across his career - before, during and after his time in Government. Most were given in his capacity as Prime Minister covering Hawke government activities and achievements as well as commemorating significant events occurring during his time in office.
- ACTU speeches and correspondence (RH5)
- Pre Prime Ministerial speeches (RH26)
- Prime Ministerial domestic speeches (RH20)
- Professor John Wood Prime Ministerial speeches (RH28)
- Prime Ministerial international speeches (RH21)
- Post Prime Ministerial speeches (RH22)
Notable speeches in the Collection include:
- Opening of New Parliament House in 1988
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Bicentenary events including the Closing Ceremony of the Bicentenary given at the 15th National Australian Scout Jamboree where he closed by saying:
So as our Bicentenary now comes to a close, I give you, our young people, this challenge : look into our past and see what we have done well and what we have done less well; look at our present and see what is good and what needs to be changed; then look to the future and ask yourself what contribution you can make to building an even better Australia.
- His speech at the Memorial Ceremony for those killed in China at the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989
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The speech he gave at the Barunga Sports and Cultural Festival in June 1988. This festival was where Mr Hawke was presented with the Barunga Statement by Glarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja. His last act as Prime Minister was the hanging of the Barunga Statement in Parliament House
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Speeches given at the Gallipoli Dawn Service and the Lone Pine Ceremony during his visit to Turkey to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Gallipoli in 1990
More information about Bob Hawke
Records relating to the Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL are held in a number of organisations across Australia. More information and archival material can be found by exploring the collections linked below.
Related archival collections
- National Archives of Australia
A collection of records created by Hawke in his years as a member of parliament and prime minister, along with the Official Commonwealth records about Hawke including the records on the Hawke Cabinet.
- Museum of Australian Democracy
A collection of resources and archival items relating to Hawke's political career and achievements while in office.
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
A database of transcripts from the Prime Ministers of Australia, which can be searched for lists of Hawke speeches and related transcripts.
- Australian Parliamentary Library
A database of parliamentary records, including records relating to Hawke's career in the Australian Federal Parliament.
- National Film and Sound Archive
A collection of film and sound realia, which can be searched for recordings of and relating to Bob Hawke.
- TROVE (National Library of Australia)
The National Library of Australia's collection of books, images, historic newspaper, maps, archival items and more. Search the TROVE collection for various items relating to Bob Hawke.
There is also wealth of freely accessible information about the Hon Bob Hawke AC GCL available online. The resources linked below have been selected by staff at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library for their quality and accessibility.
Podcasts
- Bob Hawke at the Woodford Folk Festival (ABC, 2015)
In Conversations with Richard Fidler, Bob Hawke reflects on his years as Australian Prime Minister.
Media
- The Bob Hawke I knew (The Guardian, 2019)
A selection of articles from Australian newspaper The Guardian. Additional articles from The Guardian about Bob Hawke are available here.
- Articles on Bob Hawke (The Conversation, various years)
A selection of 57 articles on the life and legacy of Bob Hawke.
Videos
- Bob Hawke's Legacy on Australia (ABC, 2019)
A great conciliator, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke's achievements as PM included modernising the economy and integrating it into the global community, establishing Medicare, and championing environmental issues.
- Bob Hawke: An Extraordinary Life as 'The People's PM' (ABC, 2019)
Australian Story celebrates the extraordinary life and career of Bob Hawke, Australia’s most popular Prime Minister.
- 80 Hawke Years (UniSA, 2009)
The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA hosted a birthday celebration for Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke at a special 80 Hawke Years celebration, honouring the man and his legacy.
