Australian liberalism is the nation's oldest political tradition, yet its belief in freedom of thought and action has often inhibited its adherents from joining together in common purpose.

Resolving this dilemma was the task which lay before Robert Menzies and the varied supporters of the liberal cause in the wake of the disastrous 1943 federal election wipeout. Their solution was Unity in Autonomy - a new party with a clear 'philosophy' to inspire and unite people behind the principles of freedom, opportunity, enterprise and individual dignity, combined with the autonomy of state divisions to organise and articulate liberalism in their own way. This landmark history of the founding of the Liberal Party is the first to explore the party's pervasive federalism, and how forging a structure that can uphold core principles while accommodating local differences, has helped the party long outlive its centre-right predecessors.

Dr Zachary Gorman is the Historian and Research Manager for the Robert Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne. An expert on the history of Australian liberalism, he has authored or edited eight books covering figures like Robert Menzies, George Reid, Joseph Cook, Joseph Carruthers and William Wentworth.