1979 in Australia

Infobox Australian year
monarch = Elizabeth II
governor-general = Zelman Cowen
pm =Malcolm Fraser
population = 14,359,255
australian =
elections =SA, TAS, VIC"See also:"
1978 in Australia,
other events of 1979,
1980 in Australia and the
Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

*Queen of Australia - HM Queen Elizabeth II
*Prime Minister - Malcolm Fraser
*Governor General - Zelman Cowen
*Premier of New South Wales - Neville Wran
*Premier of South Australia - Don Dunstan, Des Cocoran
*Premier of Queensland - Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
*Premier of Tasmania - Harry Holgate
*Premier of Western Australia - Charles Court
*Premier of Victoria - Rupert Hamer
*Chief Minister of the Northern Territory - Paul Everingham

Events

* Neville Bonner is announced as Australian of the Year
* June 9 - A fire at Luna Park Sydney kills 7. The park is forced to close.
* July 11 - The American space station Skylab crashes in Western Australia
* July 20 - inaugural meeting of the National Farmers' Federation
* October 19 - The Australian Federal Police is established

Arts and Literature

* Wes Walters wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Philip Adams
* David Ireland's novel "A Woman of the Future" wins the Miles Franklin Award

Film

* My Brilliant Career, directed by Gillian Armstrong, is released

Television

* February 11 - The Australian "60 Minutes" begins on the Nine Network
* February 27 - "Prisoner" makes its debut on the 0-10 Network.

port

*March 25 – Australia is represented by nine long-distance runners (all men), including Robert de Castella, at the seventh IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Limerick, Ireland. Steve Austin is Australia's best finisher, claiming the 29th spot (38:36.0) in the race over 12 kilometres.
*August 12 – Robert de Castella wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:13:23 in Perth.
*November 6 – Hyperno wins the Melbourne Cup
*Carlton Football Club wins the 1979 VFL Grand Final over Collingwood.
* Victoria wins the Sheffield Shield
* "Bumblebee IV" takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. "Screw Loose" is the handicap winner
* England defeats Australia 5-1 in The Ashes
* Australia wins the Admiral's Cup
* Jack Newton wins the Australian Open golf championship
* The National Basketball League is founded

Births

* January 2 – Robert Newbery, diver
* March 4 – Geoff Huegill, swimmer
* March 12 – Jamie Dwyer, field hockey forward
* April 4 – Heath Ledger, actor (d. 2008)
* April 9 – Graeme Brown, cyclist
* April 18 – Zain Wright, field hockey midfielder
* July 7 – Loudy Tourky, diver
* August 23 – Lance Whitnall, Australian Rules footballer
* September 12 – Aaron Hopkins, field hockey defender
* October 20 – Tim Neesham, water polo player
* December 21 – Stephen Lambert, field hockey goalkeeper

Deaths

* January 7 – Ivan Stedman (83), swimmer (b. 1895)
* April 15 – David Brand, Premier of Western Australia (b. 1912)
* June 6 – Ion Idriess, author (b. 1889)