on foundation, the party was known as the country party of western australia. in 1944, it was renamed the country and democratic league (cdl) following its severance from the primary producers' association; however, the name proved confusing, especially after the liberals' decision to merge into the newly formed liberal and country league, and the parliamentary party reverted to being the country party at the 1949 federal election. the organisation followed suit at its 1961 conference. in 1974, the party contested state and federal elections under the national alliance banner, and then was officially renamed the national country party. on 1 april 1985, upon its union with the breakaway national party, it became the national party of western australia, which was formally affiliated with the national party of australia. as with all national parties around australia, in late 2003 the party was rebranded as the nationals western australia, although the official name has not changed.