1966 in Australia: Difference between revisions

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*[[Premier of South Australia]] - Frank Walsh
*[[Premier of South Australia]] - Frank Walsh
*[[Premier of Queensland]] - [[Joh Bjelke-Petersen]]
*[[Premier of Queensland]] - [[Joh Bjelke-Petersen]]
*[[Premier of Tasmania]] -
*[[Premier of Tasmania]] - [[Eric Reece]]
*[[Premier of Western Australia]] -
*[[Premier of Western Australia]] -
*[[Premier of Victoria]] - [[Henry Bolte]]
*[[Premier of Victoria]] - [[Henry Bolte]]
Line 17: Line 17:
==Events==
==Events==
* [[Robert Menzies]], Australia's longest-serving [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]], retires and is succeeded by [[Harold Holt]]
* [[Robert Menzies]], Australia's longest-serving [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]], retires and is succeeded by [[Harold Holt]]
* the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] government of [[Harold Holt]] scores a massive victory in the 1966 federal election, and is returned to power with the largest majority in the federal parliament's 65-year history
* the [[Beaumont children]] are abducted during a visit to [[Glenelg Beach]] in [[Adelaide]] and are never seen again
* the severe drought which has stricken large areas of Australia since 1957, particularly in rural NSW and Queensland, is finally eased by widespread rains
* [[Jœrn Utzon]] resigns as architect of the [[Sydney Opera House]], following a bitter struggle with the new Public Works Minister [[Davis Hughes]] over fees, costs and design changes
⚫
* [[Jack Brabham]] is named Australian Of The Year
* The first National Service conscripts fly out from Richmond RAAF base in Sydney bound for Vietnam
* NSW [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]] leader [[Arthur Calwell]] is injured in an assassination attempt by 19-year-old [[Peter Kocan]]
* [[Japan]] replaces Great Britain as Australia's largest trading partner
* the Council for the [[Defence of Government Schools]] (DOGS) is formed in Melbourne
* the [[Queensland]] government grants sand mining leases on [[Fraser Island]] without holding the required public hearings
* NSW repeals the [[Sunday Observance Act]], allowing theatres and cinemas to open, sporting events to charge admission and clubs to sell alcohol on Sundays
* [[General Motors Holden]] becomes the first local car manufacturer to instal [[seat belts]] as standard equipment in all its new vehicles.
* [[Ronald Ryan]] is hanged at Melbourne's [[Pentridge Goal]], becoming the last person to suffer the [[death penalty]] in Australia
* [[Western Mining Corporation]]. discover rich nickel ore deposits at Kambalda in Western Australia's Kimberly region.
* [[Prince Charles]] arrives in Australia to attend [[Geelong Grammar]]'s exclusive [[Timbertop]] preperatory school.
* the Federal government announces the formation of a military Task Force (including conscripts), increasing Australia's commitment to the [[Vietnam War]] to 4,500.
* US Vice-President [[Hubert Humphrey]] visits Australia to assure the Australian government that the war is being directed by Hanoi and Peking, and that it represents one of China's numerous offensives in Asia
* Victoria extends hotel trading hours from 6pm to 10pm, ending the infamous "[[Six O'Clock Swill]]". Driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.05% becomes a criminal offence.
* Decimal currency is introduced in Australia ([[February 14]])
* On advice from Immigration Minister [[Hubert Opperman]], federal cabinet reverses a decision of September 1964, agreeing that non-Europeans could be selected on an individual basis to enter as immigrants with permanent resident status and naturalisation on an equal basis with with European applicants
* The [[Arbitration Commission]] introduces a minimum weekly wage for adult male employees under federal awards
* Australian forces engage in their first major battle in Vietnam at the [[Battle of Long Tan]], inflicting heavy losses on NLF troops
* two hundred [[Gurindji]] people walk off [[Wave Hill Station]] in the [[Northern Territory]] in protest at low wages and poor conditions
* US President [[Lyndon Johnson]] arrives for a 3-day visit of Australian east coast cities, sparking rowdy demonstrations by anti-war protesters
* The [[Liberal Reform Group]] (which later evolves into the [[Australian Party]]) is founded
* [[conscientious objector]] William White is forcibly taken from his home in Sydney and inducted into the army
* Australia negotiates an agreement for an American spy satellite base to be established at [[Pine Gap]] in the [[Northern Territory]]


⚫
==Science & Technology==
⚫
* actor, dancer and choreeographer Sir [[Robert Helpmann]] is named [[Australian Of The Year]]


* Sydney industrial designer [[Harry Widmer]] wins the prestigious F.H. Edwards Laurel Award for his design for the Kriesler Mini 41-47 portable radio. The 41-47's innovative [[polypropylene]] plastic casing is the first use of this material anywhere in the world in consumer electronics
* the [[Australian Conservation Foundation]] is formed


* Australia's first satellite communications earth station opens at [[Carnarvon]] in WA
* the [[Australian Foundation of National Trusts]] is formed


⚫
==Arts and literature==
* [[Northern Territory]] patrol officers forcibly round up the last groups of the [[Pintubi]] Aboriginal people still living an independent traditional lifestyle, and resettle them on the [[Papunya]] and [[Yuendumu]] missions


⚫
* [[Jon Molvig]]'s portrait of [[Charles Blackman]] wins the [[Archibald Prize]]
⚫
==Science & Technology==
* [[Fred Williams]]' ''Upwey Landscape'' is awarded the [[Wynne Prize]]
* [[John Cargher]]'s ''Singers Of Renown'' begins on ABC Radio; Cargher is still presenting the show in [[2005 in Australia|2005]]
* both Sydney's and Melbourne's [[Tivoli Theatre]]s are closed
* [[Marion Street Theatre]] opens in Sydney
* Confectionery manufacturer [[Hoadleys]] inaugurates Australia's first national pop band competition, the [[Hoadleys National Battle Of The Sounds]]
⚫
* [[Peter Mathers]]' ''Trap'' wins the [[Miles Franklin Award]]
* [[Patrick White]]: ''The Solid Mandala''
* [[Geoffrey Blainey]]: ''The Tyranny of Distance''
* The first edition of the pop magazine ''[[Go-Set]]'' is published in Melbourne
* [[The Seekers]] return to Australia for a triumphant concert tour.
* [[The Rolling Stones]] return to Australia for their second tour
* [[Bob Dylan]] makes his first tour of Australia, supported by [[The Band]]
* [[The Easybeats]] leave for London


* the [[Siding Springs]] Observatory opens
r

⚫
==Arts and literature==
⚫
* [[Clifton Pugh]]'s portrait of R.A. Henderson wins the [[Archibald Prize]] for portraiture
* [[Larry Sitsky]]'s opera ''The Fall Of The House of Usher''
* [[Peter Sculthorpe]]'s ''[[Sun Music I]]''
* [[Joan Sutherland]] returns to perform in Australia after 14 years overseas
* the [[Canberra School of Music]] is established
* Ballet In A Nutshell (later the [[Sydney Dance Company]]) and the [[Australian Dance Theatre]] form
* the [[South Australian Theatre Company]] is formed
* [[Sydney]]'s [[Philip St Theatre]] stages its famous comedy revue ''A Cup Of Tea, A Bex and A Good Lie Down''. The production runs for twelve months, and the title passes into common usage.
⚫
* [[Thea Astley]]'s ''The Slow Natives'' wins the [[Miles Franklin Award]]
* ''[[The Ambassador (novel)|The Ambassador]]'' ([[Morris West]])
* ''[[The Merry Go Round In The Sea]]'' ([[Randolf Stow]])


==Film==
==Film==


* ''Faces In The Sun'' wins the [[AFI Award]] for Best Film
* ''The Admiral's Cup'' wins the AFI Best Film award
* [[Bruce Beresford]] is appointed secretary of the [[British Film Institute]]'s Film Production Board


==Television==
==Television==

* [[Jimmy Hannan]] wins the Gold [[Logie Award]]
* [[Gordon Chater]] wins the Gold Logie


==Sport==
==Sport==

* St Kilda defeat Colingwood in the VFL Grand Final
* Galilee wins the Melbourne Cup
* NSW yacht ''Cadence'' wins the [[Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race]]


==Births==
==Births==

Revision as of 15:00, 6 October 2005

See also: 1965 in Australia, other events of 1966, 1968 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

Events

  • Robert Menzies, Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, retires and is succeeded by Harold Holt
  • the Liberal government of Harold Holt scores a massive victory in the 1966 federal election, and is returned to power with the largest majority in the federal parliament's 65-year history
  • the Beaumont children are abducted during a visit to Glenelg Beach in Adelaide and are never seen again
  • the severe drought which has stricken large areas of Australia since 1957, particularly in rural NSW and Queensland, is finally eased by widespread rains
  • Jœrn Utzon resigns as architect of the Sydney Opera House, following a bitter struggle with the new Public Works Minister Davis Hughes over fees, costs and design changes
  • Jack Brabham is named Australian Of The Year
  • The first National Service conscripts fly out from Richmond RAAF base in Sydney bound for Vietnam
  • NSW ALP leader Arthur Calwell is injured in an assassination attempt by 19-year-old Peter Kocan
  • Japan replaces Great Britain as Australia's largest trading partner
  • the Council for the Defence of Government Schools (DOGS) is formed in Melbourne
  • the Queensland government grants sand mining leases on Fraser Island without holding the required public hearings
  • NSW repeals the Sunday Observance Act, allowing theatres and cinemas to open, sporting events to charge admission and clubs to sell alcohol on Sundays
  • General Motors Holden becomes the first local car manufacturer to instal seat belts as standard equipment in all its new vehicles.
  • Ronald Ryan is hanged at Melbourne's Pentridge Goal, becoming the last person to suffer the death penalty in Australia
  • Western Mining Corporation. discover rich nickel ore deposits at Kambalda in Western Australia's Kimberly region.
  • Prince Charles arrives in Australia to attend Geelong Grammar's exclusive Timbertop preperatory school.
  • the Federal government announces the formation of a military Task Force (including conscripts), increasing Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War to 4,500.
  • US Vice-President Hubert Humphrey visits Australia to assure the Australian government that the war is being directed by Hanoi and Peking, and that it represents one of China's numerous offensives in Asia
  • Victoria extends hotel trading hours from 6pm to 10pm, ending the infamous "Six O'Clock Swill". Driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.05% becomes a criminal offence.
  • Decimal currency is introduced in Australia (February 14)
  • On advice from Immigration Minister Hubert Opperman, federal cabinet reverses a decision of September 1964, agreeing that non-Europeans could be selected on an individual basis to enter as immigrants with permanent resident status and naturalisation on an equal basis with with European applicants
  • The Arbitration Commission introduces a minimum weekly wage for adult male employees under federal awards
  • Australian forces engage in their first major battle in Vietnam at the Battle of Long Tan, inflicting heavy losses on NLF troops
  • two hundred Gurindji people walk off Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory in protest at low wages and poor conditions
  • US President Lyndon Johnson arrives for a 3-day visit of Australian east coast cities, sparking rowdy demonstrations by anti-war protesters
  • The Liberal Reform Group (which later evolves into the Australian Party) is founded
  • conscientious objector William White is forcibly taken from his home in Sydney and inducted into the army
  • Australia negotiates an agreement for an American spy satellite base to be established at Pine Gap in the Northern Territory

Science & Technology

  • Sydney industrial designer Harry Widmer wins the prestigious F.H. Edwards Laurel Award for his design for the Kriesler Mini 41-47 portable radio. The 41-47's innovative polypropylene plastic casing is the first use of this material anywhere in the world in consumer electronics
  • Australia's first satellite communications earth station opens at Carnarvon in WA

Arts and literature


Film

Television

Sport

  • St Kilda defeat Colingwood in the VFL Grand Final
  • Galilee wins the Melbourne Cup
  • NSW yacht Cadence wins the Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race

Births

Deaths

See also

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