Monarch – Elizabeth IIGovernor-General – William Morrison, 1st Viscount DunrossilPrime Minister – Robert MenziesPremier of New South Wales – Robert HeffronPremier of South Australia – Sir Thomas PlayfordPremier of Queensland – Frank NicklinPremier of Tasmania – Eric ReecePremier of Western Australia – David BrandPremier of Victoria – Henry BolteGovernor of Queensland – Sir Henry Abel SmithGovernor of South Australia – Sir Robert George (until 7 March)Governor of Tasmania – Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron RowallanGovernor of Victoria – Sir Dallas BrooksGovernor of Western Australia – Sir Charles Gairdner7 March – Arthur Calwell becomes leader of the Australian Labor Party.10 June – A TAA Fokker Friendship, Abel Tasman, crashes at Mackay, Queensland, killing 29 persons. To date (2009), this remains the worst loss of life in a peacetime air crash in Australia.7 July – An eight-year-old schoolboy, Graeme Thorne, is kidnapped in Sydney, apparently to extort money from his parents who had recently won the Sydney Opera House lottery.19 July – First reported skyjacking/hijacking in the world Trans Australia Airlines Flight 40814 October – The Warragamba Dam is opened by the Premier of New South Wales.Science and technology
Frank Macfarlane Burnet is announced joint winner of the Nobel Prize for MedicineArts and literature
Frank Macfarlane Burnet is announced as the inaugural winner of the Australian of the YearJudy Cassab wins the Archibald PrizeThe Irishman by Elizabeth O'Conner wins the Miles Franklin Literary AwardThe introduction of television in 1956 saw that cinema audiences halved. Television led to an increase in home entertainment. It changed the patterns of leisure and exposed Australians more than ever before to other cultures.
15 January – The 2nd Annual Logie Awards are held the Savoy Hotel in Brighton, Victoria, although they are not televised. Graham Kennedy wins the "Star of the Year" (Gold Loogie) award.Theatres and cinemas were popular venues for Australians. America was the biggest influence in film because of Hollywood. Britain also played a role in influencing Australian film making.
Music was diverse during this time. People listened to classical and opera; jazz and blues; folk music and pop music. Australian musicians and singers also made it into world stages. Popular music was often connected with social protest movement and civil rights and campaigns. Peace, freedom, choice and difference were strong themes. Ballet was popularized in Australia but both ballet and opera continued to appeal to small minorities of the population. America had an enormous influence on Australian music, and American musicians tended to consistently top the 'pop' charts in Australia. A lot of people were listening to American music.
4 June – Ian Sinfield wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:25:13.9 in Melbourne.1 November – Hi Jinx wins the Melbourne CupNew South Wales wins the Sheffield ShieldKurrewa IV takes line honours and Siandra wins handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceNeale Fraser wins the men's singles at the Wimbledon championshipsAustralia defeats Italy 4-1 in the Davis Cup finalJack Brabham wins the Formula One Championship for the second time4 January – Gavin Miller, rugby league player18 January – Graham Jennings, footballer22 January – Michael Hutchence, singer (died 1997)23 January – Greg Ritchie, cricketer29 January – J.G. Thirlwell, singer-songwriter and producer29 March – Wayne Pearce, rugby league footballer and coach19 April – Roger Merrett, Australian rules footballer20 April – Debbie Flintoff-King, athlete4 May – Andrew Denton, television presenter12 May – Lisa Martin, athlete26 May – Dean Lukin, weightlifter3 June – Tracy Grimshaw, television presenter3 June – Carl Rackemann, cricketer16 June – Peter Sterling, rugby league commentator and former player8 July – Mal Meninga, rugby league footballer4 August – Tim Winton, writer13 August – Michael Richmond, ice speed skater14 August – Edi Krncevic, soccer player28 September – Gary Ayres, Australian rules footballer24 October – Ian Baker-Finch, golfer4 December – Glynis Nunn, athlete29 December – David Boon, cricketer12 January – Nevil Shute (born 1899), writer14 February – Herbert Hays (born 1869), Tasmanian politician3 April – Thomas Marwick (born 1895), politician10 April – Arthur Benjamin (born 1893), composer30 July – Walter Lindrum (born 1898), billiards player2 September – Hector Hogan (born 1931), athlete2 September – Mick O'Halloran (born 1893), politician6 October – Caroline Grills (born 1890), serial killer16 October – Frank Timson (born 1909), politician20 October – Sir Charles Marr (born 1880), politician24 November – Arthur Seaforth Blackburn (born 1892), soldier and Victoria Cross recipient30 December – Mac Abbott (born 1877), politician 