R. G. Menzies House

R. G. Menzies House
Building name at front
R. G. Menzies House viewed from north-west of the building
Map
Alternative namesMenzies House, Liberal Party HQ, Menzies Research Centre
General information
LocationBarton, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Address59 Blackall St, Barton, ACT 2600
Coordinates35°18′30.2256″S 149°8′5.7948″E / 35.308396000°S 149.134943000°E / -35.308396000; 149.134943000
Named forRobert Menzies
Opened9 November 1965; 24 June 1994
Renovated1994
Cost$65,000 (equivalent to $1,981,919 in 2022)[a]
Renovation cost$1,500,000 (equivalent to $3,073,641 in 2022)
OwnerLiberal Party
Height
ArchitecturalGeorgian
Technical details
Floor count2

The R. G. Menzies House, also known colloquially as Liberal Headquarters,[1] or simply Menzies House,[1] is the official headquarters of the Australian Federal Liberal Party.[1][2] It is also home to the party's think tank, the Menzies Research Centre.[3][4] It was built in the Georgian architectural-style[5] and is described as a "two-floored, red-brick house."[6] It is located in the Canberra suburb of Barton, less than one kilometre from Parliament House.

The building was reported to have cost AU£65,000 and was opened by then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies on 9 November 1965.[5][7] Headquarters for the Federal Liberal Party, it currently houses the "Federal Secretariat" of the party and staff of the Menzies Research Centre. After renovation in 1994 the building was re-opened by Robert Menzies' wife Pattie and had its name changed to R. G. Menzies House. The revamped building cost AU$1.5 million.[8]

At the entrance front of the building is a bust of Menzies. The bust was sculpted by Melbourne sculptor V. E. Greenhalgh.[5]

Images of the building and surroundings
  • Front Facade
    Front Facade
  • Menzies bust, at front of building
    Menzies bust, at front of building
  • Front facade, view from north-east
    Front facade, view from north-east

References

Notes

  1. ^ Original currency used was the AU£.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Ferguson, Richard (14 April 2021). "Liberals' flag fiasco". The Australian.
  2. ^ "OUR STRUCTURE". liberal.org.au. 31 July 2024. The Secretariat is the Liberal Party's national centre for administration, research and campaign planning. It offers assistance to the Divisions in State elections and is able to provide specialist support in such areas as policy development, research and strategic planning. It also co-ordinates the Liberal Party's international relations. The Federal Secretariat is located at R.G. Menzies House in Canberra which was opened by the Party's founder, Sir Robert Menzies in 1965.
  3. ^ "Menzies Research Centre – LinkedIn". LinkedIn.
  4. ^ "Annual Review 2020–21" (PDF). Menzies Research Centre.
  5. ^ a b c "New Liberal Headquarters". The Canberra Times. 8 November 1965.
  6. ^ Bourke, Latika (26 May 2019). "How the Liberals beat Labor at its own game". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ^ "PM to open Liberal HQ". The Canberra Times. 8 November 1965.
  8. ^ Peake, Ross (22 June 1994). "Libs to unveil revamped HQ". The Canberra Times.