Wild surf claimed the life of Harold Holt and equally wild rumours about the former prime minister's disappearance may have been avoided if a public inquiry had been held at the time, the Victorian coroner found today.
State Coroner Graeme Johnstone found that the then prime minister drowned while swimming in the surf off Cheviot Beach on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula on December 17, 1967.
Coroners were previously unable to investigate deaths where a body was never found but the Coroner's Act of 1985 changed the law, enabling findings to be made.
Handing down his finding today, Mr Johnstone said fanciful theories surrounding Mr Holt's disappearance ranged from him being taken by a Chinese submarine to committing suicide.
"Unfortunately, there was no open inquiry at the time so this detailed material did not become general public knowledge," he said.
"Perhaps, in hindsight, there should have been an inquiry as it may have avoided the development of some of the unsubstantiated rumours and unusual theories."
Mr Johnstone said his investigation had analysed all of the available investigative and historical material and found the theories were fanciful.
"It is sad that, over the years, all of these fanciful or unusual theories about Mr Holt's disappearance should receive public ventilation, overshadow his life and require an explanation," the coroner said.
"A simple reading of the original investigative material provides the real and credible explanation."
Mr Johnstone quoted from a recently released book by Dr Tom Frame, The Life and Death of Harold Holt, which said on first glance there was nothing unusual about the death; hundreds of Australians drown every year in a range of leisure pursuits.
"Whilst the true figure is nowhere near the hundreds the actual annual drowning death rate is still significant," Mr Johnstone said.
Mr Holt's death was one of 85 drownings investigated by the coroner, in which no body was ever recovered.
He said the majority of the drownings were illustrative of similar preventable deaths occurring to Victorians during work or recreational activities on the water.
AAP
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Victorian State Coroner Graeme Johnstone has ruled that former Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt drowned in the surf at Cheviot Beach on December 17, 1967. Mr Holt was swimming at the beach, known for its dangerous currents, when he disappeared. Numerous theories have circulated since to explain the disappearance, including one that believed he was abducted by a Chinese submarine.

No formal inquiry was held at the time, because the law at the time stated that coroners could not investigate unless there was a body. This law was changed in 1985. Mr. Johnstone said that the lack of inquiry meant that much information was not released to the public, which may have contributed to the development of the conspiracy theories.

"Unfortunately, there was no open inquiry at the time so this detailed material did not become general public knowledge," he said, adding, "A simple reading of the original investigative material provides the real and credible explanation."

Mr. Holt's son said that the family believed all along that Holt had drowned.

"Myself and the other family members have always thought that it was simply a matter of him going for a swim when he shouldn't," he said.