1956 in Australia

1956 in Australia
The following lists events that happened during 1956 in Australia.
Incumbents
Monarch – Elizabeth II
Governor-General – Sir William Slim
Prime Minister – Robert Menzies
Chief Justice – Sir Owen Dixon
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
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
Events
August - The Murray River flooded (the biggest flood in recorded history), affecting many towns near the river.
22 November – The 1956 Summer Olympics opened in Melbourne. The opening ceremony was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with 107,700 people watching.
Arts and literature
William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Albert Namatjira
Quadrant literary magazine is founded, edited by James McAuley
Television
16 September – Australia's first TV station TCN-9 begins regular transmission in Sydney
4 November - HSV-7 begins as Melbourne's first TV Station.
5 November – The first TV station of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is launched; ABN-2 Sydney.
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
Births
9 January – Bill Leak, editorial cartoonist (d. 2017)
20 January – Richard Morecroft, English-Australian journalist
29 January – Ian Davies, basketball player (d. 2013)
6 February – Ken Lorraway, triple jumper (d. 2007)
27 February – Andrea Mitchell, Western Australian politician and sports administrator (d. 2020)
7 March – David Koch, television personality
9 March – Steve Vizard, actor
9 May – Jana Wendt, journalist
22 May – Peter Ali, basketball player
15 July – Steve Mortimer, rugby league footballer
21 July – Andy Campbell, basketball player
31 July – Ernie Dingo, actor
12 August – Suzanne Twelftree, Paralympic wheelchair tennis player and powerlifter (d. 2019)
17 August – John Kosmina, soccer player and manager
17 September – Ross Glendinning, Australian Rules footballer
17 September – Yunupingu, musician (Yothu Yindi) and community leader (d. 2013)
2 October ~ Peter Evans
16 October – Martin Sacks, actor
7 November
Michael Wooldridge, politician
Gordon McLeod, basketball player and assistant coach.
14 November – John Anderson, politician
23 November – Shane Gould, swimmer
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
See also
List of Australian films of the 1950s
References
Australia
Years of the 20th century in Australia