1956 in Australia

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See also: 1955 in Australia, other events of 1956, 1957 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

[edit] Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Sir William Slim
• Prime Minister – Robert Menzies

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Events

Aerial view of Nangiloc, Iraak and Colignan during the 1956 Murray River flood

• 22 November – 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.

[edit] Arts and literature

• William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Albert Namatjira

[edit] Television

• 16 September – Australia's first TV station TCN-9 begins regular transmission in Sydney
• 5 November – The first TV station of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is launched; ABN-2 Sydney.

[edit] Sport

• 8 September – 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

[edit] Births

• 6 February – Ken Lorraway, triple jumper (d. 2007)
• 7 March – David Koch, television personality
• 9 March – Steve Vizard, actor
• 9 May – Jana Wendt, journalist
• 15 July – Steve Mortimer, rugby league footballer
• 31 July – Ernie Dingo, actor
• 17 August – John Kosmina, soccer player and manager
• 17 September – Ross Glendinning, Australian Rules footballer
• 17 September – Mandawuy Yunupingu, musician and community leader
• 16 October – Martin Sacks, actor
• 7 November – Michael Wooldridge, politician
• 14 November – John Anderson, politician
• 23 November – Shane Gould, swimmer

[edit] Deaths

• 21 March – Fanny Durack, (b. 1889), swimmer
• 29 May – Frank Beaurepaire, (b. 1891), swimmer and politician
• 12 July – John Hayes, (b. 1868), Premier of Tasmania