Bert Hawke

The Honourable Bert Hawke
18th Premier of Western Australia
In office 23 February 1953 – 2 April 1959
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Charles Gairdner
Deputy	John Tonkin
Preceded by	Ross McLarty
Succeeded by	David Brand
Leader of the Opposition
In office 3 July 1951 – 22 February 1953
Premier	Ross McLarty
Deputy	John Tonkin
Preceded by	Frank Wise
Succeeded by	Ross McLarty
In office 2 April 1959 – 31 December 1966
Premier	David Brand
Deputy	John Tonkin
Preceded by	David Brand
Succeeded by	John Tonkin
Leader of the Western Australian Labor Party
In office 3 July 1951 – 31 December 1966
Deputy	John Tonkin
Preceded by	Frank Wise
Succeeded by	John Tonkin
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
In office 24 April 1933 – 23 March 1968
Preceded by	James Mitchell
Succeeded by	Ken McIver
Constituency	Northam
Member of the South Australian House of Assembly
In office 5 April 1924 – 26 March 1927
Preceded by	George Jenkins
Succeeded by	George Jenkins
Constituency	Burra Burra
Personal details
Born	Albert Redvers George Hawke (1900-12-03)3 December 1900 Kapunda, South Australia
Died	14 February 1986(1986-02-14) (aged 85) Adelaide, South Australia
Political party	Labor
Spouse	Mabel Crafter ​ ​ (m. 1923; died 1967)​
Children	1
Relatives	Clem Hawke (brother) Bob Hawke (nephew)

Albert Redvers George Hawke (3 December 1900 – 14 February 1986) was an Australian politician who was the premier of Western Australia from 23 February 1953 to 2 April 1959. He represented the Labor Party.

Hawke was born in South Australia, and began his political career in that state, winning a seat in the House of Assembly at the 1924 state election. He was only 23 at the time, making him the youngest MP in South Australia's history. Hawke lost his seat at the 1927 election, and moved to Western Australia the following year. At the 1933 state election in Western Australia, which saw a Labor landslide, he unexpectedly defeated the sitting Nationalist premier, Sir James Mitchell, in the seat of Northam.

In May 1936, Hawke became a minister in the government of Philip Collier. He later also served as a minister in the governments of John Willcock and Frank Wise, and was elected deputy leader of the Labor Party in July 1945. Hawke succeeded Wise as party leader in June 1951, and led Labor to victory at the 1953 state election. He retained government at the 1956 election, just a year after the 1955 party split, but was defeated in 1959 after just over six years in office. Hawke continued as Labor leader until December 1966, leading the party to two more elections, and left parliament at the 1968 election.

His nephew, Bob Hawke, served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991.