The Australian Centre Party had its origins in the State Country Party which had been reformed in December 1963. At a meeting in Launceston in October 1966 it decided to change its name to that of the Australian Centre Party. This coincided with the resignation of from the Liberal Party of Kevin Lyons in September of that year. Lyons led the new Centre Party and in 1969 joined a coalition Tasmanian Liberal government, holding the balance of power until 1972. The Party based its headquarters in Launceston.