1956 in Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following lists events that happened during 1956 in Australia.

1956 in Australia
MonarchyElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralWilliam Slim
Prime ministerRobert Menzies
Population9,425,563
ElectionsWA, SA, NSW, TAS, QLD

←

Flag of Australia.svg
 1956
in
Australia

→

Decades:
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
See also:
  • Other events of 1956
  • Timeline of Australian history

Incumbents[]

Robert Menzies
  • Monarch – Elizabeth II
  • Governor-General – Sir William Slim
  • Prime Minister – Robert Menzies
  • Chief Justice – Sir Owen Dixon

State Premiers[]

State Governors[]

  • Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
  • Governor of Queensland – Sir John Lavarack
  • Governor of South Australia – Sir Robert George
  • Governor of Tasmania – Sir Ronald Cross, 1st Baronet
  • Governor of Victoria – Sir Dallas Brooks
  • Governor of Western Australia – Sir Charles Gairdner

Events[]

  • August - The Murray River flooded (the biggest flood in recorded history), affecting many towns near the river.
  • 22 November – The 1956 Summer Olympics opened in Melbourne. The opening ceremony was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with 107,700 people watching.


Arts and literature[]

Main article: 1956 in Australian literature
  • William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Albert Namatjira
  • Quadrant literary magazine is founded, edited by James McAuley


Television[]

  • 16 September – Australia's first TV station TCN-9 begins regular transmission in Sydney
  • 4 November - HSV-7 begins as Melbourne's first TV Station.
  • 5 November – The first TV station of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is launched; ABN-2 Sydney.

Sport[]

  • 8 September – John Russell wins his first men's national marathon title, clocking 2:26:37.8 in Melbourne.
  • Melbourne Cup winner in 1956 was Evening Peal, ridden by George Podmore Trained by E.D.Lawson
  • New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
  • Kurrewa IV takes line honours and Solo wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
  • New South Wales Rugby League premiership: St George defeated Balmain
  • Victorian Football League premiership: Melbourne defeated Collingwood
  • Australian Men's Tennis Championship was won by Lew Hoad from NSW aged 22
  • Australian Women's Tennis Championship was won by Miss Mary Carter

Births[]

  • 9 January – Bill Leak, editorial cartoonist (d. 2017)
  • 20 January – Richard Morecroft, English-Australian journalist
  • 29 January – Ian Davies, basketball player (d. 2013)
  • 6 February – Ken Lorraway, triple jumper (d. 2007)
  • 27 February – Andrea Mitchell, Western Australian politician and sports administrator (d. 2020)
  • 7 March – David Koch, television personality
  • 9 March – Steve Vizard, actor
  • 9 May – Jana Wendt, journalist
  • 22 May – Peter Ali, basketball player
  • 15 July – Steve Mortimer, rugby league footballer
  • 21 July – Andy Campbell, basketball player
  • 31 July – Ernie Dingo, actor
  • 12 August – Suzanne Twelftree, Paralympic wheelchair tennis player and powerlifter (d. 2019)
  • 17 August – John Kosmina, soccer player and manager
  • 17 September – Ross Glendinning, Australian Rules footballer
  • 17 September – Yunupingu, musician (Yothu Yindi) and community leader (d. 2013)
  • 2 October ~ Peter Evans
  • 16 October – Martin Sacks, actor
  • 7 November
    • Michael Wooldridge, politician
    • Gordon McLeod, basketball player and assistant coach.
  • 14 November – John Anderson, politician
  • 23 November – Shane Gould, swimmer

Deaths[]

  • 21 March – Fanny Durack, (b. 1889), swimmer[1]
  • 29 May – Frank Beaurepaire, (b. 1891), swimmer and politician
  • 12 July – John Hayes, (b. 1868), Premier of Tasmania

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Helen King (1981). Bede Nairn; Geoff Serle (eds.). Durack, Sarah (Fanny) (1889–1956). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 1. Melbourne University Press. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
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