- 1959 in Australia
Infobox Australian year
monarch = Elizabeth II
governor-general = William Slim
pm =Robert Menzies
population = 10,056,479
australian =
elections =SA ,WA ,NSW , TAS"See also:"1958 in Australia ,
other events of 1959,1960 in Australia and theTimeline of Australian history .Incumbents
*Prime Minister -
Robert Menzies
*Governor General -William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim
*Premier of New South Wales -Joseph Cahill died in office22 October ; succeeded byRobert Heffron
*Premier of South Australia - Sir Thomas Playford
*Premier of Queensland -Frank Nicklin
*Premier of Tasmania -Eric Reece
*Premier of Western Australia -Albert Hawke succeeded byDavid Brand on2 April
*Premier of Victoria -Henry Bolte Events
*
26 January (Australia Day ) - Darwin was granted city status
* February - major floods inQueensland [http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/flood/qld/fld_history/floodsum_1950.shtml]
* March - formal construction of theSydney Opera House began
*4 June - the Soviet embassy in Canberra was reopened. It had been closed since29 April 1954 as a result of thePetrov Affair [http://www.asio.gov.au/About/Timeline/Content/main.htm]
* August and September - Princess Alexandra toured Australia [http://150.theage.com.au/view_bestofarticle.asp?straction=update&inttype=1&intid=523]
* September -Australian National University building an "Atom Smasher" [http://150.theage.com.au/view_bestofarticle.asp?straction=update&inttype=1&intid=527]
*23 September the M/S Princess of Tasmania Australia's firstpassenger Roll-on/roll-off diesel ferry makes maiden voyage acrossBass Strait .
* November -Donald Bradman batted for 15 minutes in a demonstration. He retired fromcricket . [http://150.theage.com.au/view_bestofarticle.asp?straction=update&inttype=1&intid=519]cience & Technology
Arts and literature
*
William Dobell wins theArchibald Prize with a portrait of "Dr Edward MacMahon"
* "The Big Fellow " byVance Palmer wins theMiles Franklin Literary Award Film
"On the Beach" starring
Gregory Peck andAva Gardner was shot aroundMelbourne . The film was based on the novel byNevil Shute .Television
"
Six O'Clock Rock " screened on the Australian Broadcasting Commission's channel. It was compered byJohnny O'Keefe and was the ABC's response to "Bandstand" on Channel Nine.port
* Cricket
** New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
** England toured Australia in the summer of 1958/59 forThe Ashes ; Australia won the series 4-0.* Football
**Brisbane Rugby League premiership : Northern Suburbs defeated Brothers 24-18
**New South Wales Rugby League premiership : St. George defeated Manly-Warringah 20-0
** South Australian National Football League premiership: won by Port Adelaide
** Victorian Football League premiership: Melbourne defeated Essendon 115-78* Golf
** Australian Open: won byKel Nagle * Horse Racing
** "Regal Wench" wins theCaulfield Cup
** "Noholme" wins theCox Plate
** "Fine and Dandy" wins theGolden Slipper
** "Macdougal" wins theMelbourne Cup * Motor Racing
**Jack Brabham wins the 1959 Formula One Drivers' Championship
** TheAustralian Grand Prix was held atLongford, Tasmania and won by Stan Jones driving aMaserati * Tennis
** Australian Open men's singles:Alex Olmedo defeatsNeale Fraser 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3
** Australian Open women's singles: Mary Carter defeatsRenee Schuurman 6-2 6-3
**Davis Cup : Australia defeats the United States 3-2 in the1959 Davis Cup final* Yachting
** "Solo" takes line honours and "Cherana " wins on handicap in theSydney to Hobart Yacht Race Births
*
January 31 —Anthony LaPaglia , actor
*February 8 —Andrew Hoy , equestrian rider
*February 12 —Sigrid Thornton , actress
*February 24 —Mike Whitney , cricketer
*June 5 —Mark Ella , rugby union player
*July 21 —Paul Vautin , rugby league player and media personality
*July 26 —Gary Honey , long jumper
*August 19 —Rodney Adler , businessman
*August 30 —Mark "Jacko" Jackson , Australian footballer and actor
*October 6 —Robyn Maher , basketball player
*October 11 —Wayne Gardner , motorcycle and touring car racer
*September 4 —Kevin Harrington , Australian actor
*December 1 —Wally Lewis , rugby league player
*December 12 —Christine Stanton , high jumper
*December 15 —Greg Matthews , cricketerDeaths
*
February 22 -Harold Hardwick (b. 1888), freestyle swimmer
*June 20 - Sir Ian Clunies Ross (b. 1899), scientist
*August 8 -Albert Namatjira (b. 1902), Aboriginal artist noted for his central Australian landscapes painted in water-colours
*October 14 -Errol Flynn (b. 1909), Hollywood movie star born in Tasmania
*October 14 -Jack Davey radio comedian and quiz show host
*October 22 -Joseph Cahill (b. 1891), Premier of New South Wales
*November 10 -Gertrude Bodenweiser Australian choreographer [http://www.australiadancing.org/apps/ad?action=ViewSubject&id=14&resourceType=Manuscript]
*November 11 -Charles Chauvel (b. 1897), film maker
*November 24 -Dally Messenger (b. 1883), rugby footballer
*December 18 -Edouard Borovansky , Czech born ballet dancer and choreographer; founder of the Borovansky Australian Balletee also
*
1959
*1950s
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