1984 in Australia

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The following lists events that happened during 1984 in Australia.

1984 in Australia
MonarchyElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralSir Ninian Stephen
Prime ministerBob Hawke
Population15,393,472
Australian of the YearLowitja O'Donoghue
ElectionsNSW, Federal, Referendum

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 1984
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Decades:
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s
  • 2000s
See also:
  • Other events of 1984
  • Federal election
  • Timeline of Australian history

Incumbents[]

Sir Ninian Stephen
Bob Hawke
  • Monarch – Elizabeth II
  • Governor-General – Sir Ninian Stephen
  • Prime Minister – Bob Hawke
  • Chief Justice – Sir Harry Gibbs

State and Territory Leaders[]

Governors and Administrators[]

  • Governor of New South Wales – Sir James Rowland
  • Governor of Queensland – Sir James Ramsay
  • Governor of South Australia – Sir Donald Dunstan
  • Governor of Tasmania – Sir James Plimsoll
  • Governor of Victoria – Sir Brian Murray
  • Governor of Western Australia – Gordon Reid (from 2 July)
  • Administrator of Norfolk Island – Raymond Trebilco
  • Administrator of the Northern Territory – Eric Johnston

Events[]

January[]

  • 17 January – Ian Sinclair is elected leader of the National Party of Australia following Doug Anthony's retirement.[1]
  • 26 January – Aboriginal leader Lowitja (Lois) O'Donoghue becomes Australian of the Year.[2]
  • 27 to 30 January – The final Narara Music Festival on the Central Coast of New South Wales features INXS, Simple Minds, The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Eurythmics and Def Leppard.[3][4]

February[]

  • 1 February – Medicare comes into effect in Australia.[5]
  • 2 February – Melbourne newspaper The Age publishes phone taps incriminating an unknown judge.[6]
  • 14 February – Elton John marries Renate Blauel in Sydney.[7]

March[]

  • 6 March –
    • A bomb blast wrecks the home of Judge Richard Gee in the Sydney suburb of Belrose.[8]
    • High Court Judge, Justice Lionel Murphy is named in Parliament as the judge referred to in The Age tapes published on 2 February.[9]
  • 24 March – Wran Government re-elected in NSW for a 4th term.[10]
  • 26 March – The $100 note is introduced.[11]

April[]

  • April – A 915g jar of Vegemite is the first product in Australia to be electronically scanned at a checkout.[12]
  • 19 April – Advance Australia Fair is proclaimed as Australia's national anthem, and green and gold as the national colours.[13][14]

May[]

  • 14 May – The one dollar coin is introduced in Australia.[15]
  • 18 May – In New South Wales gay sex between consenting adult males is decriminalised.[16][17]

July[]

August[]

  • August – Brenda Hodge becomes the last person to be sentenced to death by Western Australia, and in the country as a whole, before the complete abolition of capital punishment. Her sentence is later commuted to life imprisonment.
  • 1 August – Australian banks are deregulated.
  • 7 August – Margaret, 35, and Seana Tapp, 9 are attacked and murdered by an unknown man in their suburban Melbourne home.[22] Seana is also sexually assaulted.[23]
  • 21 August – The Federal budget is televised for the first time.[24]

September[]

  • 2 September – 7 people shot dead and 12 wounded in a bikie shootout between rival bikie gangs the Bandidos and Comancheros in the Sydney suburb of Milperra.[25]
  • 5 September – Western Australia becomes the last Australian state to abolish capital punishment for ordinary crimes (i.e. murder). New South Wales maintained it as a punishment for treason and piracy with violence until 1985†, when capital punishment was finally abolished in Australia.

October[]

  • 1 October – National Film and Sound Archive (Screensound Australia) opens in Canberra.[26]

November[]

  • 6 November – In a crime that shocks the city, Melbourne schoolgirl Kylie Maybury is kidnapped, raped and murdered after being sent on an errand to buy a bag of sugar.[27]
  • 26 November –
    • Former NSW Corrective Services Minister Rex Jackson appears in Court on conspiracy charges for the early release of prisoners.[28]
    • A good performance by Andrew Peacock in the leaders' televised debate boosts his poll ratings.[29]

December[]

  • 2 December – Hawke Government re-elected with a reduced majority.[30]
  • 7 December – Andrew Peacock and John Howard retain their respective positions in the Opposition.[31]

Arts and literature[]

  • Tim Winton's novel Shallows wins the Miles Franklin Award[32]

Film[]

Television[]

  • 30 January – Perfect Match is launched in the 5:30 pm timeslot, bringing in record ratings for that timeslot & ensuring Ten's Eyewitness News won the 6–7 p.m. timeslot.
  • 3 February – Australia's first nationally televised telethon screens on Network Ten. It is a 26-hour effort to raise money for Australia's Olympic athletes.[33]
  • 11 February – The Nine Network's Hey Hey It's Saturday moves from Saturday mornings to the 9:30 pm timeslot and renamed Hey Hey It's Saturday Night.
  • 26 July – French-American-Canadian animated television series Inspector Gadget begins on ABC.
  • Christopher Skase purchases TVQ-0.[34]
  • Network Ten televises the 1984 Summer Olympics from Los Angeles. Also, all stations adopt a uniform on-air look for the first time.
  • The first televised federal election debate takes place.

Sport[]

VFL[]

  • 29 September – Essendon (14.21.105) defeat Hawthorn (12.9.81) to win the 88th VFL premiership[35]
  • Brownlow Medal awarded to Peter Moore (Melbourne)[36]

Rugby League[]

  • 23 September – Minor premiers Canterbury Bulldogs defeat Parramatta Eels 6–4 to win the 77th NSWRL premiership.[37] Western Suburbs Magpies finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.

Other[]

  • 25 March – Robert de Castella is Australia's only competitor at the twelfth IAAF World Cross Country Championships, staged in New York, USA. He finishes in 21st place (34:08.0) in the race over 12,086 metres.[38]
  • 10 June – Andrew Lloyd wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:14:36 in Sydney, while Mora Main claims the women's title in 2:46:00.[39][40]
  • 6 November – Black Knight wins the Melbourne Cup.[41]

Births[]

  • 1 January – Michael Witt, rugby league player
  • 10 January – Trent Cutler, rugby league player
  • 26 January – Ryan Hoffman, rugby league player
  • 7 March – Jacob Lillyman, rugby league player
  • 22 March – Tara Simmons, musician (died 2019)
  • 30 March – Samantha Stosur, tennis player
  • 3 April – Allana Slater, gymnast
  • 13 April – Kris Britt, cricketer
  • 26 April – Petrina Price, high jumper
  • 3 May – Jacqui Dunn, artistic gymnast[42]
  • 4 May – Kiel Brown, field hockey midfielder
  • 10 May – Alana Boyd, pole vaulter
  • 15 May
    • Samantha Noble, actress
    • Beau Scott, Australian rugby league player
  • 31 May – Jason Smith, actor
  • 3 June – Todd Reid, tennis player (died 2018)
  • June 14 – Jay Lyon, actor, musician and model
  • 9 July – Alexandra Croak, gymnast & diver
  • 20 July – James Mackay, actor
  • 24 July – Patrick Harvey, actor
  • 30 July – Trudy McIntosh, artistic gymnast[43]
  • 4 September – Adam Marshall, politician
  • 20 September – Jason Chatfield, artist, comedian
  • 3 October – Jarrod Bannister, athlete (d. 2018)[44]
  • 8 October — Laura Wells, International Plus Sized Model and Environmentalist.
  • 17 October – Michelle Ang, actress
  • 30 October – Cameron Ciraldo, rugby league player and coach
  • 9 November – Delta Goodrem, singer and actress
  • 13 November – Jamie Soward, rugby league player
  • 14 November – Courtney Johns, Australian footballer
  • 25 November – Peter Siddle, cricketer
  • 28 November – Andrew Bogut, basketball player
  • 8 December – Tim Paine, cricketer
  • 12 December
  • 25 December – Lisa and Jessica Origliasso, singer/songwriters

Deaths[]

  • 9 January – Bob Dyer, television host (born in the United States) (b. 1909)
  • 21 January – Alan Marshall, writer (b. 1902)
  • 17 May – Nigel Drury, Queensland politician (b. 1911)
  • 19 June – Sir Phillip Lynch, Victorian politician (b. 1933)
  • 21 June – Denis Murphy, Queensland politician (b. 1936)
  • 29 September – Hal Porter, author and playwright (b. 1911)
  • 6 November – Kylie Maybury, murder victim (b. 1978)
  • 20 December – Grace Cossington Smith, artist (b. 1892)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Malone, Paul (18 January 1988). "New leader Sinclair faces questions on credibility". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Jon Seiben on visit anyway". The Canberra Times. 28 January 1985. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ^ Dempsey, Shelley (30 January 1985). "2CC chats with performers at Narara". The Canberra Times.
  4. ^ "Rain drowns the music, and floods leave festival fans stranded in the mud". The Canberra Times. 31 January 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Teething troubles likely for Labor's newborn Medicare". The Canberra Times. 1 February 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Police to investigate allegations about judge". The Canberra Times. 3 February 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  7. ^ Miller, Julie. "Rocketman: Elton John's Forgotten 1984 Wedding to Renate Blauel". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  8. ^ Coulthart, Ross (7 July 2013). "Investigation exposes the dad accused of an unsolved crime spree that killed four people". The Sunday Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  9. ^ Malone, Paul (7 March 1984). "Judge named by Qld minister". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  10. ^ Malone, Paul (25 March 1984). "Labor back, but about 11 seats lost". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  11. ^ "New $100 note on Monday". The Canberra Times. 21 March 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  12. ^ Sheedy, Chris; Jenny Bond (2006). 100 Great Icons. Milsons Point, New South Wales: Random House Australia. pp. 34–35. ISBN 978-1-74166-501-7.
  13. ^ "'Advance Australia' national anthem". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Green and gold our official colours". The Canberra Times. 20 April 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  15. ^ "New, shiny, $1 coin raises some eyebrows". The Canberra Times. 15 May 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  16. ^ "NSW Assembly passes homosexuality law reform". The Canberra Times. 17 May 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Homosexuality Bill passes all stages". The Canberra Times. 19 May 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Family Court judge's wife killed, home damaged". The Canberra Times. 5 July 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Report of the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia". Australian Parliament House. 20 November 1985. p. 7 (PDF). Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Three states to join national crime body". The Canberra Times. 3 July 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  21. ^ Waterford, Jack (22 July 1984). "Top ACT judge enters fray over 'Mr Justice Policeman'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Mother, daughter killed in beds". The Canberra Times. 10 August 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  23. ^ Jolly, Nathan (1 December 2019). "Why the murders of mother and daughter Margaret and Seana remain unsolved". news.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  24. ^ Morris, Joan (19 August 1984). "Television history being made". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Seven shot dead at hotel". The Canberra Times. 3 September 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  26. ^ Jeffrey, Brian (2 October 1984). "Archive grew out of concern for film and sound heritage". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Body of girl, 6, found in gutter". The Canberra Times. 8 November 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  28. ^ "Jackson needed to raise money, Crown alleges". The Canberra Times. 27 November 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  29. ^ Jones, Bruce (26 November 1984). "Peacock's 'impressive performance'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  30. ^ Malone, Paul (2 December 1984). "Informal vote takes icing off ALP cake". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  31. ^ Coyle, Kerry (8 December 1984). "Peacock, Howard returned". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Franklin award to Winton". The Canberra Times. 15 May 1985. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Olympics telethon aims for LA and beyond". The Canberra Times. 3 February 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Qld TV channel buyer pursuing media interest". The Canberra Times. 6 May 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Winners at last..." The Canberra Times. 30 September 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Melbourne ruckman Peter Moore wins second Brownlow". The Canberra Times. 25 September 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  37. ^ "Canterbury the best". The Canberra Times. 24 September 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  38. ^ "De Castella confident despite losses". 7 April 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Wang Australian Marathon 1984 results (page 1)". ausrunning. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Wang Australian Marathon 1984 results (page 3)". ausrunning. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  41. ^ "The Melbourne Cup in pictures..." The Canberra Times. 8 November 1984. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Jacqui Dunn". m2002.thecgf.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Trudy MCINTOSH - Olympic Gymnastics Artistic | Australia". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. 20 June 2016.
  44. ^ "Jarrod Bannister". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee.
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