1961 in Australia

Infobox Australian year
monarch = Elizabeth II
governor-general = William Morrison, then William Sidney
pm =Robert Menzies
population = 10,548,267
australian =
elections =Federal, VIC"See also:"
1960 in Australia,
other events of 1961,
1962 in Australia and the
Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

*Prime Minister - Robert Menzies
*Governor General - William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil (died in office February 3) William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle
*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

* January 2 - Oral contraceptives are first sold in Australia
* February 25 - Last electric tram service runs in Sydney
* June 23 - Australia signed the Antarctic Treaty
* October 31 - Parkes radiotelescope officially opened by the Governor General
* November 30 - an Ansett ANA Vickers Viscount aircraft crashes on takeoff into Botany Bay, killing all 15 on board

cience & Technology

Arts and literature

* Dame Joan Sutherland is announced as Australian of the Year
* William Pidgeon wins the Archibald Prize
* The novel Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence is banned from sale
* "Riders in the Chariot" by Patrick White is awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Award

Film

Television

* August 19 - "Four Corners" TV current affairs program first screened on ABC TV

port

* Cricket
** New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
** The Ashes: Australia defeats England 2-1 and retains The Ashes

* Football
** Brisbane Rugby League premiership: Norths defeated Valleys 29-5
** New South Wales Rugby League premiership: St. George defeated Western Suburbs 22-0
** South Australian National Football League premiership: won by West Adelaide
** Victorian Football League premiership: Hawthorn defeated Footscray 94-51

* Golf
** Australian Open: won by Frank Phillips
** Australian PGA Championship: won by Allan Murray

* Horse Racing
** "Summer Fair" wins the Caulfield Cup
** "Dhaulagiri" wins the Cox Plate
** "Magic Night" wins the Golden Slipper
** "Lord Fury" wins the Melbourne Cup

* Motor Racing
** The Australian Grand Prix was held at Mallala and won by Lex Davison driving a Cooper Climax

* Tennis
** Australian Open men's singles: Roy Emerson defeats Rod Laver 1-6 6-3 7-5 6-4
** Australian Open women's singles: Margaret Smith defeats Jan Lehane 6-1 6-4
** Davis Cup: Australia defeats Italy 5-0 in the 1961 Davis Cup final
** Wimbledon: Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser win the Men's Doubles
** Wimbledon: Rod Laver wins the Men's Singles

* Yachting
** "Astor" takes line honours and "Rival" wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Births

* March 16 - Brett Kenny, Rugby League footballer
* March 24 - Dean Jones, cricketer
* April 12 - Magda Szubanski, comedian
* May 16 - Gina Riley, actor and comedian
* May 31 - Justin Madden, Australian Rules footballer
* June 16 - Peter Sterling, Rugby League footballer
* July 21 - Morris Iemma, Premier of New South Wales
* October 8 - Simon Burke, actor
* November 18 - Anthony Warlow, singer
* November 23 - Merv Hughes, cricketer
* December 17 - Larry Anthony, politician
* December 29 - Mal Brough, politician

Deaths

* February 3 – William Morrison (b. 1893), Governor General of Australia
* February 20 – Percy Grainger (b.1882), pianist and composer
* May 22 – Lionel Lindsay (b.1874), artist
* September 27 – Peter Dawson (b. 1882), singer
* December 3 – Pat O'Hara Wood (b. 1891), tennis player
* December 20 – Earle Page (b. 1880), Prime Minister of Australia

ee also

*1961
*1960s