1960 in Australia.html



See also: 1959 in Australia, other events of 1960, 1961 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

• Prime Minister - Robert Menzies
• Governor General - William Slim (til February 2), then William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil
• 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

Events

• June 10 A TAA Fokker Friendship, Abel Tasman, crashes at Mackay, Queensland, killing 29 persons. To date (2006), this remains the worst loss of life in a peacetime air crash in Australia
• Arthur Calwell becomes leader of the Australian Labor Party
• The Warragamba Dam is completed

Science & 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.

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.

Sport

• June 4 - Ian Sinfield wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:25:13.9 in Melbourne.
• 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

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

Deaths

• January 12 - Nevil Shute (b. 1899), writer
• April 10 - Arthur Benjamin (b. 1893), composer
• July 30 - Walter Lindrum (b. 1898), billiards player

See also

• 1960
• 1960s