Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty with book launch

On 1 September 1951, Australia’s Minister for External Affairs, Sir Percy Spender, signed the ANZUS Treaty in San Francisco with the United States and New Zealand.

Exactly 75 years later, the Robert Menzies Institute is marking that moment in Sydney with a very special event.

The Institute invites you to the launch of The Hidden War with Allegra Spender MP, Member for Wentworth and granddaughter of Sir Percy Spender, together with Steven Marshall AO, former Premier of South Australia and President of the American Australian Association.

The Hidden War, by award-winning author Belinda Murrell, is a fictional account of the events that led to the signing of ANZUS, told through the eyes of 15-year-old John Spender, Sir Percy’s son, who would himself go on to become a barrister, politician and diplomat.

It is particularly fitting that Allegra Spender will launch the book on the exact 75th anniversary of the treaty her grandfather signed on Australia’s behalf.

If you are in Sydney on 1 September, join us for this special anniversary occasion.

Details of the event are:

Date: Tuesday 1 September 2026
Time: 5:30pm – 7pm
Venue: Mallesons, Governor Phillip Tower, Level 61/1 Farrer Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Tickets: FREE for members / $30 for non-members. Book your ticket HERE

Drinks and canapes will be served at the event.

If you wish to become a member of the Robert Menzies Institute and avail our free tickets to our events, visit here: Membership | Robert Menzies Institute

We thank all our generous donors who supported the publication of this book. In particular, we’d like to thank Kathie and Patrick Moore for their support of this project.