Recounts the story of Australia's nationhood as the story of Australian Liberalism. This is the first book put together by the Liberal Party of Australia for many years.

Contents: 1. Liberalism and the Australian Federation / A.A. Staley and J.R. Nethercote -- 2. Liberalism: the international context / Chandran Kukathas -- 3. Australian liberalism / Gregory Melleuish -- 4. Liberalism: the nineteenth century legacy / Winsome Roberts -- 5. A liberal federation and a liberal constitution / Greg Craven -- 6. The Federation decade / Ian Marsh -- 7. Alfred Deakin and the Australian Women's National League / Margaret Fitzherbert -- 8. Liberalism, nationalism and coalition, 1910-29 / J.R. Nethercote -- 9. The rise and fall of the United Australia Party / Clem Lloyd -- 10. Menzies: the wartime prime ministership, 1939-41 / Michael Keenan -- 11. Menzies and post-war prosperity / Graeme Starr -- 12. Liberal governments, 1966-72 / Ian Hancock -- 13. The Fraser years / Charles Richardson -- 14. Towards a new Australian settlement? The progress of Australian liberalism / Andrew Norton -- 15. Liberalism and Australia's economic and industrial development / J.J. Pincus -- 16. Liberalism and social welfare / John Roskam -- 17. Federalism and the Liberal Party / Campbell Sharman -- 18. In the national interest: liberal foreign relations from Deakin to Howard / Carl Bridge -- Appendix 1. Australian governments formed by the Liberal Party and its forerunners -- Appendix 2. Leaders of Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party and its forerunners -- Appendix 3. Party representation in the House of Representatives and Senate, 1901-1998 -- Appendix 4. Some key dates -- Appendix 5. Brief biographical notes.

Includes bibliography (p.337-369) and index.