1961 in Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: 1960 in Australia, other events of 1961, 1962 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Contents |
[edit] Incumbents
- Prime Minister - Robert Menzies
- Governor General - William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil (died in office February 3) William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle
- Premier of New South Wales - Robert Heffron
- Premier of South Australia - Sir Thomas Playford
- Premier of Queensland - Frank Nicklin
- Premier of Tasmania - Eric Reece
- Premier of Western Australia - David Brand
- Premier of Victoria - Henry Bolte
[edit] Events
- January 2 - Oral contraceptives are first sold in Australia
- February 25 - Last electric tram service runs in Sydney
- August 19 - Four Corners TV current affairs program first screened
- October 31 - Parkes radiotelescope officially opened by the Governor General
- November 30 - an Ansett ANA Vickers Viscount aircraft crashes on takeoff into Botany Bay, killing all 15 on board
[edit] Science & Technology
[edit] Arts and literature
- Dame Joan Sutherland is announced as Australian of the Year
- William Pidgeon wins the Archibald Prize
- The novel Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence is banned from sale.
[edit] Film
[edit] Television
[edit] Sport
- Lord Fury wins the Melbourne Cup
- New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
- Rival wins the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
- Rod Laver wins the men's singles at the Wimbledon championships
- Australia defeats Italy 5-0 in the Davis Cup final
[edit] Births
- March 24 - Dean Jones, cricketer
- April 12 - Magda Szubanski, comedian
- May 16 - Gina Riley, actor and comedian
- May 31 - Justin Madden, Australian Rules footballer
- June 16 - Peter Sterling, Rugby League footballer
- July 21 - Morris Iemma, Premier of New South Wales
- November 18 - Anthony Warlow, singer
- November 23 - Merv Hughes, cricketer
- December 17 - Larry Anthony, politician
[edit] Deaths
- February 3 - William Morrison (b. 1893), Governor General of Australia
- February 20 - Percy Grainger (b.1882), pianist and composer
- May 22 - Lionel Lindsay (b.1874), artist
- September 27 - Peter Dawson (b. 1882), singer
- December 20 - Earle Page (b. 1880), Prime Minister of Australia
