Summary heading

Person registration completed as part of the Prime Ministers Papers Project (March 2002).

Career within Commonwealth

Pattie Maie Menzies (nee Leckie) was the first child and eldest of three daughters born to John William Leckie and his wife May Beatrix (nee Johnston). Educated at Presbyterian Ladies College and Fintona in Melbourne, she shared her father’s political interests in local, state and federal government. In 1920, she married Robert Gordon Menzies, then a brilliant young barrister. They lived in Kew in Melbourne until 1948 and had three children (two sons and a daughter).

Following Menzies’ election to federal Parliament in 1934, Pattie Menzies frequently travelled to Canberra with him. After her first trip to the United Kingdom in 1937 for King George V’s silver jubilee, she also usually accompanied Menzies on his overseas visits. In this period, Pattie Menzies was a member of the Boards of Management of the Children’s Hospital and later the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, and was active in the Presbyterian Free Kindergarten Movement. In 1949, she became President of the Australian Women’s Liberal Club.

Called ‘Pat’ by her husband, Pattie Menzies was described by Dame Enid Lyons as spontaneously gracious (1). A small, modest woman who avoided publicity, she believed strongly in her husband’s capabilities and is considered to have exercised a strong influence in private. During his first term as Prime Minister (1939-1941), Pattie Menzies took an interest in The Lodge garden. During his second term in office (1949-1966) she oversaw the residence’s substantial refurbishment, was directly involved in its housekeeping and regarded it as the family home.

As wife of Australia’s longest serving Prime Minister, Pattie Menzies was considered ‘the classic prime minister’s wife’ (2). In 1954, she was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in recognition of her public duty, hospital work in Australia and distinguished representation of Australia overseas. The honour was conferred by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

On Menzies’ retirement in January 1966, Dame Pattie effectively left public life, but travelled overseas while he was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and nursed him in the years prior to his death in 1978. She subsequently lived in Canberra, where she died in August 1995.

Links to other Commonwealth Persons

27 Sep 1920 – 15 May 1978:  CP 54, The Rt Hon Sir Robert Gordon MENZIES PC, KT, CH, QC

Publications

End notes

1. Lyons, Dame Enid, Among the Carrion Crows, p 54

2. Langmore, Diane, Prime Ministers’ Wives, p 200

Sources

Langmore, Diane, Prime Ministers’ Wives (McPhee Gribble, 1992), pp 173-200

Lyons, Dame Enid, Among the Carrion Crows (Adelaide, Rigby, 1972)

Who’s Who in Australia, 15^th ed (1955) and 32^nd ed (1996)