1964 in Australia explained

The following lists events that happened during 1964 in Australia.

Governor-General:	Viscount De L'Isle
Pm:	Sir Robert Menzies
Australian:	Dawn Fraser
Elections:	TAS, VIC, Half-Senate

Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Viscount De L'Isle
• Prime Minister – Sir Robert Menzies
  • Opposition Leader – Arthur Calwell
• Chief Justice – Sir Owen Dixon (until 13 April), then Sir Garfield Barwick

State and territory leaders

• Premier of New South Wales – Bob Heffron (until 30 April), then Jack Renshaw
  • Opposition Leader – Robert Askin
• Premier of Queensland – Frank Nicklin
  • Opposition Leader – Jack Duggan
• Premier of South Australia – Sir Thomas Playford IV
  • Opposition Leader – Frank Walsh
• Premier of Tasmania – Eric Reece
  • Opposition Leader – Angus Bethune
• Premier of Victoria – Henry Bolte
  • Opposition Leader – Clive Stoneham
• Premier of Western Australia – David Brand
  • Opposition Leader – Albert Hawke

Governors and administrators

• Governor of New South Wales – Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward
• Governor of Queensland – Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith
• Governor of South Australia – Lieutenant General Sir Edric Bastyan
• Governor of Tasmania – General Sir Charles Gairdner
• Governor of Victoria – Major General Sir Rohan Delacombe
• Governor of Western Australia – Major General Sir Douglas Kendrew
• Administrator of Nauru – Reginald Leydin
• Administrator of Norfolk Island – Robert Wordsworth, then Roger Nott
• Administrator of the Northern Territory – Roger Nott (until 1 October), then Roger Dean
• Administrator of Papua and New Guinea – Sir Donald Cleland

Events

January

• 29 January – The Royal Australian Air Force takes delivery of its first two Mirage fighter jets.^{[1] [2]}
• 31 January – Seven infants are killed in the nursery fire tragedy in the Melbourne suburb of Templestowe.^{[3] [4]}

February

• 3 February –
  • Cyclone Dora strikes the west coast of Cape York Peninsula causing extensive damage to the Edward River and Mitchell River Aboriginal missions.^{[5] [6]}
  • The first double-decker carriages begin trial runs on the Sydney rail network.^[7]
• 10 February –
  • 82 people are killed in the Melbourne–Voyager collision in Jervis Bay when the aircraft carrier and the destroyer collide.^{[8] [9]}
  • A 16-year-old boy drowns when he is caught in a rip at Bilgola Beach.^[10]

March

• 5 March – 25-year-old Barry Rodrick is found guilty by a jury of murdering 12-year-old Monica Ann Schofield near the Sydney suburb of Hammondville on 17 June 1963 and is sentenced to life imprisonment.^{[11] [12]}
• 10 March – Sir Percy Spender is appointed President of the International Court of Justice.^[13]
• 27 March – There is a split in the Communist Party of Australia and the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) is formed.^[14]

April

• 2 April – 49-year-old UWA lecturer Maurice Bernard Benn is found guilty by a jury of murdering his four-year-old son Bernard Wolfgang Benn and is sentenced to death.^[15] His sentence is later commuted to ten years imprisonment.^[16] Instead of condemning his actions, the university instead offers their support to Benn vowing to offer continued employment upon his release from prison.^[17]
• 9 April – The Menzies government refuses to ratify the International Labour Organization convention on equal pay for women.^[18]
• 8 April – The Moonie oil pipeline to Lytton Oil Refinery opens
• 21 April –
  • Hanna Neumann is named professor and chair of pure mathematics at the Australian National University in Canberra, becoming the first female professor of pure mathematics at an Australian university and the first woman to be appointed to a chair at ANU.
  • Judy Hanrahan becomes the first female bank teller appointed by the Bank of NSW since World War II, taking up the position at the Collins Street branch in Melbourne.^[19]
• 23 April — Federal Liberal Party politician Sir Garfield Barwick is announced as the new Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, succeeding Sir Owen Dixon who resigned on 13 April.^[20] Prime minister Robert Menzies said Barwick had already resigned from the House of Representatives and is "taking steps" to resign as the Minister for External Affairs.^[20]
• 29 April — Lake Burley Griffin reaches filled maximum level for the first time.^[21]

May

• 14 May – A Royal Australian Navy helicopter with a crew of four onboard makes a forced landing on a sports oval in the Wollongong suburb of Cringila after its engine cuts out flying over the Port Kembla steelworks.^[22]

June

• June – Macquarie University founded
• 12–30 June – The Beatles' 1964 world tour in Australia and New Zealand.
• 13 June – Two gasfitters and a co-proprietor of a Sydney coffee shop in George Street are killed when a gas pipe ruptured as they were attempting to identify a gas leak in the cellar of the Cuba Coffee Inn.^[23] Five others are hospitalised including two ambulance officers while eight others were treated for slight gas poisoning.^[23]

July

• 6 July – Warrant Officer Class 2, Kevin Conway of the Australian Army Training Team becomes the first Vietnam War battle casualty when he is killed during a Viet Cong attack on the Nam Đông special forces post in Thừa Thiên Huế province.^{[24] [25]}
• 15 July – The first edition of The Australian is published in Canberra, Australia's first national daily newspaper, published by Rupert Murdoch's News Limited.^{[26] [27] [28]}
• 17 July – Donald Campbell sets new land speed record of 429 miles per hour in his jet-propelled car "Bluebird" at Lake Eyre, South Australia.^[29]

August

• 4 August – 25-year-old railway porter David Herman Mason is found guilty by a jury of murdering his 15-month-old daughter Rowena Dorelle Mason in Lithgow, New South Wales on 16 April 1964 and is sentenced to life imprisonment.^[30]
• 8 August – The 1964 Waratah state by-election is held in New South Wales which was triggered by the death of Labor's Edward Greaves.^[31] The by-election is won by independent candidate Frank Purdue, the lord mayor of Newcastle.^[32]
• 17 August – The Tasman Bridge across the Derwent River opens in Hobart.^[33]

September

• 23 September – The publishers of Sydney's satirical Oz magazine (Richard Neville, Richard Walsh, Martin Sharp and Alfred James) are all convicted with printing an obscene publication.^[34] Neville and Walsh are both sentenced to six months gaol, Sharp is sentenced to four months gaol while James is fined £50.^[34] However, they successfully appeal their sentences and have their convictions quashed on 11 February 1966.^[35]

October

• 2 October – The Gladesville Bridge, then the world's longest concrete arch is officially opened in Sydney by Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.^{[36] [37]}
• 17 October — Prime Minister Robert Menzies inaugurates Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra.^[38]
• 26 October – Notorious Perth serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke is executed at Fremantle Prison becoming the last person to be hanged in Western Australia.^{[39] [40]}

November

• 10 November – Prime Minister Robert Menzies announces the reintroduction of National Service.^[41]

December

• 10 December – The Queensland government declares a state of emergency in an attempt to end the Mount Isa Mines dispute.^[42]
• 16 December – Melbourne's La Trobe University is founded
• 31 December – Donald Campbell sets new water speed record of 276 miles per hour at Dumbleyung Lake, Western Australia.^[43]

Arts and literature

See main article: 1964 in Australian literature.

• Donald Horne's The Lucky Country published.
• Kath Walker's We Are Going published.
• My Brother Jack by George Johnston is awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Award.^[44]

Television

• 1 August – The launch of ATV-0 marks the birth of the third commercial television network, now known as Network Ten.^[45]
• 3 October – Singer Johnny Chester hosts a new show on Melborne's ABV-2 called Teen Scene, which also features his backing group The Chessmen as the house band.^[46]
• 20 October – Police drama Homicide premieres on Melbourne's HSV-7, beginning a 12-year run setting the pace for Australian television drama.^[47]
• 11 November – The Mavis Bramston Show premieres on ATN-7 in Sydney.^{[48] [49]}

Sport

• 23 February – South Australia wins the 1963–64 Sheffield Shield season, defeating Victoria by an innings and 46 runs.^{[50] [51]}
• 17 May – Midget Farrelly wins the first World Surfboard Championship at Manly Beach while Phyllis O'Donnell wins the women's title.^[52]
• 18 July – Robert Vagg wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:24:06.2 in Sydney.^[53]
• 19 September –
  • St. George win the 1964 NSWRFL season Grand Final, winning their ninth straight premiership after defeating Balmain 11–6 at the SCG.^[54] Canterbury-Bankstown finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
  • Melbourne win the 1964 VFL grand final defeating Collingwood by four points.^[55]
• 13 October – Dawn Fraser wins Australia's first gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when she wins the women's 100 metre freestyle event.^[56]
• 15 October – Ian O'Brien wins gold in the men's 200 metre breastroke event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.^[57]
• 17 October –
  • Robert Windle wins gold in the men's 1500 metre freestyle event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.^[58]
  • Betty Cuthbert wins gold in the women's 400 metre athletics event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.^[59]
• 18 October – Kevin Berry wins gold in the men's 200 metre butterfly event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.^[60]
• 21 October – William Northam, Peter O'Donnell and James Sargeant win gold in the men's 5.5 metre sailing event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.^[61]
• 24 October –
  • Australia places 8th in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics with a total of 18 medals (6 gold, 2 silver and 10 bronze).^[62]
  • Dawn Fraser becomes the first Australian athlete to carry the Australian flag at an Olympics closing ceremony.^{[62] [63]}
• 3 November – Polo Prince wins the Melbourne Cup.^[64]
• 30 December – Freya is declared the winner of the 1964 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race while Astor takes line honours.^[65]

Births

• 15 January – Scott Emerson, politician
• 16 January – Chris Dittmar, squash player
• 25 January – Mark McPhee, cricketer (died 1999)
• 25 February – Dale Last, politician
• 3 March – Sandy Bolton, politician
• 4 March – Karen Knowles, entertainer
• 13 March
  • Stephen Bennett, politician
  • Trevor Gillmeister, rugby league player
• 26 March – Martin Bella, rugby league player
• 8 April – Michael Caltabiano, politician
• 15 April – Lee Kernaghan, country singer/songwriter
• 19 April – Peter Jackson (died 1997), Australian rugby league footballer
• 30 April – Ian Healy, cricket player and commentator
• 2 May – John Hathaway, politician
• 19 May – Peter Jackson, rugby league player (died 1997)
• 28 May – Jeff Fenech, boxer and trainer
• 3 June – Matthew Ryan, equestrian
• 7 June – Gia Carides, actress
• 9 June – Jane Kennedy, actress and comedian
• 11 June – Carl Barron, comedian
• 22 June – Tom Crebbin, Australian rules footballer
• 23 June – Tara Morice, actress, singer, and dancer
• 1 July – Clayton Lamb, Australian rules footballer
• 4 July – Martin Flood, quiz show winner
• 13 July – Leanne Benjamin, ballet dancer
• 3 August – Michael Healy, politician
• 4 August – Andrew Bartlett, politician
• 5 August – Dale Shuttleworth, politician
• 10 August – Andy Caldecott, motorcycle racer (died 2006)
• 14 August – Jason Dunstall, Australian Rules football player
• 19 August – Dermott Brereton, Australian Rules football player
• 5 September – Frank Farina, soccer player and manager
• 11 September – Kathy Watt, cyclist
• 16 September – Chris Franklin, comedian
• 27 October – Mark Taylor, cricket player and commentator
• 28 October – Darius Perkins, actor (died 2019)
• 29 October – Eddie McGuire, businessman and television presenter
• 29 October – Jackie Pereira, field hockey striker
• 9 November – Mark Dalton, basketball player
• 19 November – Peter Rohde, footballer (Carlton F.C.)
• 23 November – Marilyn Kidd, rower^[66]
• 9 December – Larry Emdur, television presenter
• 16 December
  • Georgie Parker, actress
  • Gabrielle Upton, politician
• 22 December – Sam Cox, politician

Deaths

• 15 January – Harry Sunderland, rugby league administrator (born 1889)^[67]
• 23 January – Claude Hulbert, British actor (born 1900)^[68]
• 12 February – Arthur Upfield, author (born 1890)^[69]
• 27 February – Orry-Kelly, costume designer (born 1897)^[70]
• 18 April – Wilfred Mibus, Victorian politician (born 1900)^[71]
• 19 October – Nettie Palmer, author (born 1885)^[72]

See also

• List of Australian films of the 1960s

Notes and References

1. News: 30 January 1964. Mirage is in service. The Age. 1. 14 August 2024.
2. News: 30 January 1964. None better than Mirage, says PM. The Age. 3. 14 August 2024.
3. News: 1 February 1964. Seven babies burned to death - blaze destroys nursery. The Age. 1. 14 August 2024.
4. News: 3 February 1964. Cigarette out of car "probably lit nursery fire". The Age. 1. 14 August 2024.
5. News: 5 February 1964. Missions hit by cyclone. The Sydney Morning Herald. 7. 8 August 2024.
6. News: 5 February 1964. Cyclone flattens mission settlement. The Age. 1. 8 August 2024.
7. News: 4 February 1964. Double-decker makes debut. The Sydney Morning Herald. 3. 10 August 2024.
8. News: 11 February 1964. HMAS Voyager sinks after night collision. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 10 August 2024.
9. News: Gilbert. Romy. 10 February 2024. HMAS Voyager survivors commemorate maritime disaster's 60th anniversary off Jervis Bay. ABC News. 10 August 2024.
10. News: 11 February 1964. Boy drowns at Bilgola. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 10 August 2024.
11. News: 6 March 1964. Killer of schoolgirl, 12, sentenced to prison for life. The Sydney Morning Herald. 22. 14 August 2024.
12. News: Sutton. Candace. 26 February 2017. The savage murder of a schoolgirl that will haunt detective Peter Cox forever. news.com.au. 14 August 2024.
13. News: 11 March 1964. Sir Percy Spender elected to new post. The Age. 4. 15 August 2024.
14. News: 28 March 1964. Communists form rebel party. The Sydney Morning Herald. 7. 10 August 2024.
15. News: 3 April 1964. Death sentence for on lecturer for murder of son. The Age. 1. 14 August 2024.
16. News: 16 April 1964. Shorter term possible for Dr Benn. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 14 August 2024.
17. News: 7 July 1964. Post for Dr Benn on release from gaol. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 14 August 2024.
18. News: 10 April 1964. Government attacked on equal pay. The Sydney Morning Herald. 6. 10 August 2024.
19. News: 22 April 1964. Women take up posts in 'men's domains'. The Age. 3. 10 August 2024.
20. News: 24 April 1964. Barwick named new chief justice; Diplomatic tour off. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024.
21. News: 30 April 1964. At last. The Canberra Times. 1. 11 August 2024.
22. News: 15 May 1964. Helicopter lands on sports oval. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024.
23. News: 14 June 1964. Three gassed to death in city cellar. The Sun-Herald. 3. 11 August 2024.
24. News: 7 July 1964. Australian killed in onslaught by Vietnam rebels. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024.
25. News: 8 July 1964. Another 23 Army men going to Vietnam. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024. Today's statement names the Australian instructor killed in Vietnam as Warrant-Officer (II) Kevin George Conway, 35, single, of Beechmere, 30 miles north of Brisbane..
26. News: 14 July 1964. A national newspaper for Australia. The Guardian. 6. 8 August 2024.
27. News: Murdoch. Rupert. 13 July 1964. A new kind of daily newspaper (advertisement). The Age. 8. 8 August 2024. will be on sale daily, from Wednesday.
28. News: Connery. Tess. 3 June 2024. The Australian kicks off 60th anniversary celebrations, backed by major brands. Mediaweek. 8 August 2024. On 15 July 1964, Rupert Murdoch published the first issue of The Australian....
29. News: 18 July 1964. Bluebird streaks to land speed record - Campbell glad to be alive after triumph. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024.
30. News: 5 August 1964. Life sentence for murder of daughter. The Sydney Morning Herald. 6. 14 August 2024.
31. News: 9 August 1964. Close voting in Newcastle poll. The Sun-Herald. 3. 8 August 2024.
32. News: 10 August 1964. Election seen as protest against government. The Sydney Morning Herald. 4. 8 August 2024.
33. News: 17 August 1964. New bridge opens over Derwent. The Age. 12. 8 August 2024.
34. News: 24 September 1964. Magzine found obscene: SM gaols three. The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 August 2024.
35. News: 10 February 1966. Convictions quashed: Magazine found not obscene. The Sydney Morning Herald. 6. 10 August 2024.
36. News: 3 October 1964. Opening with a flourish. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 8 August 2024.
37. News: 3 October 1964. Thousands use new Gladesville Bridge. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 8 August 2024.
38. Web site: 18 February 2022 . The 'inauguration' of Lake Burley Griffin, 17 October 1964, speech recording of Robert Menzies . 5 February 2024 . abc.net.au . 4 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204233928/https://www.abc.net.au/education/the-inauguration-of-lake-burley-griffin/13760850 . live .
39. News: 27 October 1964. Murderer hanged in WA gaol. The Sydney Morning Herald. 9. 11 August 2024.
40. News: Stewart. Tracey. 14 November 2017. Serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke's voice heard 53 years after his execution. ABC News. 11 August 2024. The city's first known serial killer, Cooke eventually became the last man hanged in WA..
41. News: 11 November 1964. Conscription with service overseas: Major defence changes. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024.
42. News: 11 December 1964. Drastic action over Mt Isa. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 15 August 2024.
43. News: 1 January 1965. Donald Campbell in new world water record run. The Age. 1. 15 August 2024.
44. Web site: My Brother Jack: A Novel – novel . austlit.edu.au . AustLit . 19 August 2017 . 19 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170819145002/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C91651 . live .
45. News: 3 August 2024. New TV channel goes on the air. The Age. 3. 8 August 2024.
46. News: 1 October 1964. New shows this week. The Age. 22. 11 August 2024.
47. News: 15 October 1964. Melbourne challenge to TV detective imports. The Age. 25. 11 August 2024.
48. News: Marshall. Valda. 15 November 1964. TV Merry-go-round (The Mavis Bramston Show). The Sydney Morning Herald. 94. 11 August 2024.
49. News: Marshall. Valda. 15 November 1964. The faces behind TV's Mavis Bramston. The Sydney Morning Herald. 96. 11 August 2024.
50. News: 24 February 1964. Sobers "wraps up" the Shield for SA. The Age. 1. 12 August 2024.
51. News: 24 February 1964. Victoria in second SA Shield match crash. The Age. 18. 12 August 2024.
52. News: 18 May 1964. The style of a champion. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 11 August 2024.
53. News: 19 July 1964. Olympic bid by runners. The Sun-Herald. 67. 11 August 2024.
54. News: Goodman. Tom. 20 September 1964. One only try in 11-6 victory over Balmain. The Sun-Herald. 55. 12 August 2024.
55. News: Carter. Ron. 21 September 1964. "Crazy" moves gave Demons win. The Age. 24. 12 August 2024.
56. News: Clarkson. Alan. 14 October 1964. Triumph for Dawn Fraser. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 12 August 2024.
57. News: Clarkson. Alan. 16 October 1964. O'Brien sets world time; lunge to win gold medal. The Sydney Morning Herald. 26. 12 August 2024.
58. News: Clarkson. Alan. 18 October 1964. Windle in brilliant 1,500 win. The Sun-Herald. 74. 12 August 2024.
59. News: Taylor. Greg. 19 October 1964. Miss Cuthbert makes brilliant comeback. The Age. 22. 12 August 2024.
60. News: Clarkson. Alan. 19 October 1964. Berry breaks Aust gloom with gold medal for butterfly. The Sydney Morning Herald. 20. 12 August 2024.
61. News: 22 October 1964. US gamble fails - gold medal to Northam. The Age. 39. 12 August 2024.
62. Web site: 2024. Tokyo 1964: Australia at these Games. Olympics. 12 August 2024.
63. News: 25 October 1964. Cheers close Games. The Sun-Herald. 3. 12 August 2024.
64. News: 4 November 1964. NZ takes major prizes in Cup. The Age. 1. 11 August 2024.
65. News: 31 December 1964. Story finish: winner by sloop likely. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 12 August 2024.
66. Web site: Marilyn KIDD . worldrowing.com . 25 May 2020 . 13 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913151212/http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/34994/results/kidd-marilyn . live .
67. News: 17 January 1964. Rugby league pioneer dies at 74. The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 August 2024.
68. News: 24 January 1964. British actor dies on Sydney visit. The Sydney Morning Herald. 5. 12 August 2024.
69. News: 14 February 1964. Noted writer of mysteries dead. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1. 12 August 2024.
70. News: 28 February 1964. Australian-born film man dies in Hollywood. The Age. 4. 12 August 2024.
71. News: 20 April 1964. State mines minister dies. The Age. 1. 12 August 2024.
72. News: 20 October 1964. Nettie Palmer is dead. The Age. 5. 12 August 2024.