1960 in Australia

See also: 1959 in Australia, 1961 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil
• Prime Minister – Robert Menzies

State Premiers

• 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

State Governors

• Governor of Queensland – Sir Henry Abel Smith
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Robert George (until 7 March)
• Governor of Tasmania – Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Dallas Brooks
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Charles Gairdner

Events

• 7 March – Arthur Calwell becomes leader of the Australian Labor Party.
• 10 June – A TAA Fokker Friendship, Abel Tasman, crashes at Mackay, Queensland, killing 29 persons. To date (2009), this remains the worst loss of life in a peacetime air crash in Australia.
• 7 July – An eight-year-old schoolboy, Graeme Thorne, is kidnapped in Sydney, apparently to extort money from his parents who had recently won the Sydney Opera House lottery.
• 19 July – First reported skyjacking/hijacking in the world Trans Australia Airlines Flight 408
• 14 October – The Warragamba Dam is opened by the Premier of New South Wales.

Science and technology

• Frank Macfarlane Burnet is announced joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine

Arts and literature

• Frank Macfarlane Burnet is announced as the inaugural winner of the Australian of the Year
• Judy Cassab wins the Archibald Prize
• The Irishman by Elizabeth O'Conner wins the Miles Franklin Literary Award

Television

The introduction of television in 1956 saw that cinema audiences halved. Television led to an increase in home entertainment. It changed the patterns of leisure and exposed Australians more than ever before to other cultures.

• 15 January – The 2nd Annual Logie Awards are held the Savoy Hotel in Brighton, Victoria, although they are not televised. Graham Kennedy wins the "Star of the Year" (Gold Logie) award.

Film

Theatres and cinemas were popular venues for Australians. America was the biggest influence in film because of Hollywood. Britain also played a role in influencing Australian film making.

Music

Music was diverse during this time. People listened to classical and opera; jazz and blues; folk music and pop music. Australian musicians and singers also made it into world stages. Popular music was often connected with social protest movement and civil rights and campaigns. Peace, freedom, choice and difference were strong themes. Ballet was popularized in Australia but both ballet and opera continued to appeal to small minorities of the population. America had an enormous influence on Australian music, and American musicians tended to consistently top the 'pop' charts in Australia. A lot of people were listening to American music.

Sport

• 4 June – Ian Sinfield wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:25:13.9 in Melbourne.
• 1 November – Hi Jinx wins the Melbourne Cup
• New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
• Kurrewa IV takes line honours and Siandra wins handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
• Neale Fraser wins the men's singles at the Wimbledon championships
• Australia defeats Italy 4-1 in the Davis Cup final
• Jack Brabham wins the Formula One Championship for the second time

Births

• 18 January – Graham Jennings, footballer
• 22 January – Michael Hutchence, singer (died 1997)
• 23 January – Greg Ritchie, cricketer
• 29 March – Wayne Pearce, rugby league footballer and coach
• 19 April – Roger Merrett, Australian rules footballer
• 20 April – Debbie Flintoff-King, athlete
• 4 May – Andrew Denton, television presenter
• 12 May – Lisa Martin, athlete
• 26 May – Dean Lukin, weightlifter
• 3 June – Tracy Grimshaw, television presenter
• 3 June – Carl Rackemann, cricketer
• 16 June – Peter Sterling, rugby league commentator and former player
• 8 July – Mal Meninga, rugby league footballer
• 4 August – Tim Winton, writer
• 13 August – Michael Richmond, ice speed skater
• 14 August – Edi Krncevic, soccer player
• 28 September – Gary Ayres, Australian rules footballer
• 24 October – Ian Baker-Finch, golfer
• 4 December – Glynis Nunn, athlete
• 29 December – David Boon, cricketer

Deaths

• 12 January – Nevil Shute (born 1899), writer
• 14 February – Herbert Hays (born 1869), Tasmanian politician
• 3 April – Thomas Marwick (born 1895), politician
• 10 April – Arthur Benjamin (born 1893), composer
• 30 July – Walter Lindrum (born 1898), billiards player
• 2 September – Hector Hogan (born 1931), athlete
• 2 September – Mick O'Halloran (born 1893), politician
• 6 October – Caroline Grills (born 1890), serial killer
• 16 October – Frank Timson (born 1909), politician
• 20 October – Sir Charles Marr (born 1880), politician
• 24 November – Arthur Seaforth Blackburn (born 1892), soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
• 30 December – Mac Abbott (born 1877), politician