Gordon Chalk

Who was Gordon Chalk?

Sir Gordon William Wesley Chalk, KBE was Premier of Queensland for a week, from 1 to 8 August 1968. He was the first and only Queensland Premier from the modern Liberal Party of Australia.

On 23 December 1965, Chalk succeeded Sir Alan Munro as Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party, Deputy Premier and Treasurer in a coalition government with the Country Party led by Frank Nicklin. He continued in these roles when Jack Pizzey succeeded Nicklin as Premier on 17 January 1968. Following the sudden death of Pizzey on 31 July 1968, the Governor Sir Alan Mansfield swore in Chalk as Premier on 1 August, pending the Country Party electing a new leader. They chose Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who succeeded Chalk after a week in office.

Chalk continued as Treasurer and Leader of the Liberal Party until his resignation from parliament in 1976.