Western Australian Liberal Party (1911–1917)

The Western Australian Liberal Party (1911–1917) was a political party in Western Australia that existed during the early 20th century. It was formed in 1911 as a merger of the Ministerialist group and the Western Australian division of the Anti-Socialist League. The party broadly represented conservative and propertied interests, advocating for individual enterprise and limited government intervention in the economy. It was positioned in opposition to the Labor Party, which was gaining considerable political strength during this period.

Key figures associated with the Western Australian Liberal Party included Sir John Forrest (until his death in 1918, though his primary political focus was federal), Henry Lefroy, and Frank Wilson. The party experienced fluctuating fortunes during its short existence. While it held government for periods, it struggled to maintain a stable majority in the Western Australian Parliament, often relying on support from other parties and independents.

A significant challenge facing the party was the rising popularity of the Labor Party and its increasingly effective political organisation. This led to internal debates within the Liberal Party regarding strategy and policy. In 1917, the Western Australian Liberal Party merged with the Nationalist Party of Western Australia to form the Western Australian National Party. This merger was part of a broader national trend of conservative parties uniting in response to the perceived threat of socialism and the political upheaval caused by World War I. The formation of the National Party effectively brought the Western Australian Liberal Party to an end as a distinct political entity.