1956 in Australia
| 1956 in Australia | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
|---|---|
| Governor-General | William Slim |
| Prime Minister | Robert Menzies |
| Population | 9,425,563 |
| Elections | WA, SA, NSW, TAS, QLD |
See also: 1955 in Australia, other events of 1956, 1957 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Contents |
Incumbents
State Premiers
- Premier of New South Wales – Joseph Cahill
- Premier of Queensland – Vince Gair
- Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV
- Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove
- Premier of Victoria – Henry Bolte
- Premier of Western Australia – Albert Hawke
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
- November 22 - The 1956 Summer Olympics opened in Melbourne. The opening ceremony was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with 107,700 people watching.
- The Murray River flooded (the biggest flood in recorded history), affecting many towns near the river.
Arts and literature
- William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Albert Namatjira
Television
- September 16 - Australia's first TV station TCN-9 begins regular transmission in Sydney
- November 5 - The first TV station of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is launched; ABN-2 Sydney.
Sport
- September 8 - 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
- January 8 — Mel Gibson, actor
- February 6 — Ken Lorraway, triple jumper (d. 2007)
- March 7 — David Koch, television personality
- March 9 — Steve Vizard, actor
- April 28 — Jimmy Barnes, singer
- May 9 — Jana Wendt, journalist
- July 15 — Steve Mortimer, rugby league footballer
- July 31 — Ernie Dingo, actor
- August 17 — John Kosmina, soccer player and manager
- September 17 — Ross Glendinning, Australian Rules footballer
- September 17 — Mandawuy Yunupingu, musician and community leader
- October 16 — Martin Sacks, actor
- November 7 — Michael Wooldridge, politician
- November 14 — John Anderson, politician
- November 23 — Shane Gould, swimmer
Full date unknown
- Jane Aagaard, politician
Deaths
- March 21 - Fanny Durack, (b. 1889), swimmer
- May 29 - Frank Beaurepaire, (b. 1891), swimmer and politician
- July 12 - John Hayes, (b. 1868), Premier of Tasmania
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