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Period: to
1960s in Australia
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Elvis in the Army
Elvis Presley is promoted to Sergeant in the U.S. Army -
Logie Awards in Victoria
The 2nd Annual Logie Awards are held the Savoy Hotel in Brighton, Victoria -
Australian Tennis Player Wins Big
Neale Fraser wins the men's singles at the Wimbledon championships -
New Australian Labor Party guy.
Arthur Calwell becomes leader of the Australian Labor Party. -
Hotels and Theatres Open!
Hotels and theatres open for the first time on Anzac Day. Organised sport allowed in the afternoon -
New Invention!
the jet-powered engine was invented. Jet power greatly increased the speed of aircraft, as well as allowing them to stay in the air for prolonged periods of time. -
Last Tram Runs.
The last tram runs. Earlier in April, a runaway tram crashed into another tram. Several vehicles, including a bus, were hit by the trams. A conductor was killed and more than 40 people were treated for injuries in the Royal Hobart Hospital. -
Comulsory National Sevrice Ends
Comoulsory national service training for men ends. -
Federal Government Tv Commercial
Federal Government directs all future TV commercials to be made in Australia -
Melbourne Bushfire
Busfhires rage through the Great Divide and the Dandenong Ranges on the edge of Melboune, killing 8 people and destroying hundreds of houses -
Novel Banned in Australia
The novel Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence is banned from sale -
Last Tram in Sydney
Last electric tram service runs in Sydney, cease operations, bringing to an end the Southern Hemisphere's largest tramway network. -
Women Arrested at Bondi Beach
Sydney: Woman fined for being "unsuitably dressed" wearing a bikini at Bondi Beach -
Rod Laver wins Men's Singles
Rod Laver wins Men's Singles tennis final at Wimbeldon. -
Four Corners
Four Corners TV current affairs program first screened on ABC TV -
Nuclear Testing Rsumes
First meeting held of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Soviet Union resumes nuclear testing, escalating fears over the ongoing Berlin crisis. -
Radiotelescope
Parkes radiotelescope officially opened by the Governor General -
Bushfire
Busfhires rage through the Great Divide and the Dandenong Ranges on the edge of Melboune, killing 8 people and destroying hundreds of houses -
Australia Wins Big
Australia wins 38 gold medals at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held in Perth -
Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott is awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Award
Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott is awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Award -
Expressway
The final section of the Cahill Expressway opens in Sydney. -
NBN Television
NBN Television opens in Newcastle, New South Wales as NBN-3. -
The Southern Aurora arrives from Sydney on the new uniform-gauge line that now links the 2 states
The Southern Aurora arrives from Sydney on the new uniform-gauge line that now links the 2 states -
As Astronaut John Glenn circles the Earth, the city of Perth turns on its lights. "I can see the outline of a town and a very bright light just to the south of it." Glenn dubs Perth "The City of Lights"
As Astronaut John Glenn circles the Earth, the city of Perth turns on its lights. "I can see the outline of a town and a very bright light just to the south of it." Glenn dubs Perth "The City of Lights" -
New Building opens
Australia tallest building opens, the 25-storey AMP building -
Agreement signed
An agreement is signed between Britain and France to develop the Concorde supersonic airliner. -
Swan Lake in Australia
The first performance of the Australian Ballet Company in Sydney was of Swan Lake. -
The film fit for the queen
The 1963 Australian visit of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was filmed by the Commonwealth Film Unit. Much of the 30 minute film is devoted to Canberra and its history as the Queen's visit coincided with Canberra's Jubilee -
Telephone
Australians could connect more easily by telephone with the rest of the world by International Direct Dialling with the opening of COMPAC, the Commonwealth Pacific cable. This was part of a scheme to connect the British Commonwealth by telephone. -
Australia becomes the first nation to endorse the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Australia becomes the first nation to endorse the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty -
First stage of the Ord River irrigation project, the dam at Kununurra, opens
First stage of the Ord River irrigation project, the dam at Kununurra, opens -
CIA
The CIA's Domestic Operations Division is created. -
Nine Network founded as the "National Television Network"
Nine Network founded as the "National Television Network" -
New World Record
Dixie Willis breaks Lyudmila Shevtsova's world record (2:04.3) in the women's 800 metres, clocking 2:01.2 in Perth. -
The Royal Australian Air Force takes delivery of its first two Mirage fighter jets
The Royal Australian Air Force takes delivery of its first two Mirage fighter jets -
Royal Commission into the Voyager disaster opens
Royal Commission into the Voyager disaster opens -
Bernard "Midget" Farrelly wins the first World Surfboard Championship at Manly Beach
Bernard "Midget" Farrelly wins the first World Surfboard Championship at Manly Beach -
Gladesville Bridge opened – the world's longest concrete arch at the time.
Gladesville Bridge opened – the world's longest concrete arch at the time. -
The Beatles tour Australia
The Beatles tour Australia -
Queensland Government declares a state of emergency in an attempt to end an industrial dispute at Mt Isa mines.
Queensland Government declares a state of emergency in an attempt to end an industrial dispute at Mt Isa mines. -
Christmas Special
The 1-hour stop-motion animated special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, based on the popular Christmas song, premieres on NBC. It becomes a beloved Christmas tradition, still being shown on television more than 40 years later. -
Swimmer Dawn Fraser is named Australian of the Year
Swimmer Dawn Fraser is named Australian of the Year -
The Kinks and The Rolling Stones tour Australia
The Kinks and The Rolling Stones tour Australia -
The first hydrofoil ferry service begins
The first hydrofoil ferry service begins -
Sydney Symphony Orchestra preforms in Tokyo
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra performs to sell out audience in Tokyo. -
The Premier of Tasmania, Eric Reece, announces the Gordon Power scheme will “result in some modification to the Lake Pedder National Park”, but it was still in development and no further details were revealed
The Premier of Tasmania, Eric Reece, announces the Gordon Power scheme will “result in some modification to the Lake Pedder National Park”, but it was still in development and no further details were revealed -
The ALP deletes "White Australia" from its immigration policy
The ALP deletes "White Australia" from its immigration policy -
Pope Paul VI announces that the ecumenical council has decided that Jews are not collectively responsible for the killing of Christ.
Pope Paul VI announces that the ecumenical council has decided that Jews are not collectively responsible for the killing of Christ. -
Gordon Chater wins the Gold Logie
Gordon Chater wins the Gold Logie -
Joern Utzon quits the construction of the Sydney Opera House
Joern Utzon quits the construction of the Sydney Opera House -
Decimalisation; the Australian Dollar replaces the Australian pound
Decimalisation; the Australian Dollar replaces the Australian pound -
Jack Brabham is named Australian Of The Year
Jack Brabham is named Australian Of The Year -
200 hundred aborigines employed on the Wave Hill cattle station go on strike claiming a wage of $50 a week
200 hundred aborigines employed on the Wave Hill cattle station go on strike claiming a wage of $50 a week -
The St George Dragons win their 11th consecutive NSWRL premiership defeating the Balmain Tigers
The St George Dragons win their 11th consecutive NSWRL premiership defeating the Balmain Tigers -
Guy resigns
The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies resigns after 16 straight years in office. Harold Holt succeeds him -
Australian troops encounter one of the bloodiest episodes yet with the Viet Cong
Australian troops encounter one of the bloodiest episodes yet with the Viet Cong -
90% of white Australians vote in referendum for proposal to count aborigines in the census and to allow the federal government to make special laws for them
90% of white Australians vote in referendum for proposal to count aborigines in the census and to allow the federal government to make special laws for them -
Brisbane: Demonstrations against Queensland Government regulations, which require groups to apply for, and be granted, a permit before holding any public meeting in the city
Brisbane: Demonstrations against Queensland Government regulations, which require groups to apply for, and be granted, a permit before holding any public meeting in the city -
The Federal Government announces it will set up the Office of Aboriginal Affairs
The Federal Government announces it will set up the Office of Aboriginal Affairs -
Melbourne: Ronald Ryan is the last man to hang in Australia for the murder of a prison warder while escaping from Melbourne's Pentridge Jail. His execution would result in the abolition of the death penalty.
Melbourne: Ronald Ryan is the last man to hang in Australia for the murder of a prison warder while escaping from Melbourne's Pentridge Jail. His execution would result in the abolition of the death penalty. -
Tasmanian bushfires
Tasmanian bushfires -
Gough Whitlam succeeds Arthur Calwell to become new Leader of the Labor Party
Gough Whitlam succeeds Arthur Calwell to become new Leader of the Labor Party -
Canberra: John Grey Gorton sworn in as Australia's 19th Prime Minister after Harold's Holt's disappearance
Canberra: John Grey Gorton sworn in as Australia's 19th Prime Minister after Harold's Holt's disappearance -
Sydney: British comedian Tony Hancock found dead in his flat after overdose of barbiturates and alcohol
Sydney: British comedian Tony Hancock found dead in his flat after overdose of barbiturates and alcohol -
Wimbledon: Rod Laver wins Men's Singles tennis title in the first Open Wimbledon
Wimbledon: Rod Laver wins Men's Singles tennis title in the first Open Wimbledon -
Violet Town, Vic: Southern Aurora express passenger train crashes into a goods train from Sydney, killing at least 10 people and injuring 50
Violet Town, Vic: Southern Aurora express passenger train crashes into a goods train from Sydney, killing at least 10 people and injuring 50 -
Tokyo: Lionel Rose wins the Bantamweight world boxing championship after defeating Masahiko "Fighting" Harada
Tokyo: Lionel Rose wins the Bantamweight world boxing championship after defeating Masahiko "Fighting" Harada -
Brisbane: Joh Bjelke-Petersen becomes Premier and leader of the Country Party after the death of Pizzey
Brisbane: Joh Bjelke-Petersen becomes Premier and leader of the Country Party after the death of Pizzey -
WA: The town of Meckering destroyed by biggest earthquake yet recorded in Australia. The quake measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale
WA: The town of Meckering destroyed by biggest earthquake yet recorded in Australia. The quake measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale -
Vic: Death toll from bushfires across the state reaches 15
Vic: Death toll from bushfires across the state reaches 15 -
Hong Kong: Ill-fated aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne cuts an American destroyer in half in the South China Sea, killing at least 56 American sailors
Hong Kong: Ill-fated aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne cuts an American destroyer in half in the South China Sea, killing at least 56 American sailors -
Melbourne: Police battle 3,000 Vietnam war protesters outside the US Consulate
Melbourne: Police battle 3,000 Vietnam war protesters outside the US Consulate -
Portsea: Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears while swimming in heavy surf south of Melbourne. His body is never found
Portsea: Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears while swimming in heavy surf south of Melbourne. His body is never found
