Prime Minister – Robert MenziesGovernor General – William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'IslePremier 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 BolteJohn Carew Eccles is announced as the Australian of the YearThe first stage of the Ord River Scheme is completedBritish nuclear tests at Maralinga ceasedMarch – a special federal conference of the Australian Labor Party was called on the building of a North-west Cape communications facility which would support the US nuclear submarine capability. Despite the opposition of the Left faction, the Australian Labor Party National Executive voted narrowly to support the base.21 March – At the conference, Arthur Calwell and Gough Whitlam were photographed outside the venue at Kingston in Canberra. Although Calwell was the Leader of the Opposition, neither man was a member of the federal executive. Menzies jibed that the ALP was ruled by "36 faceless men".14 August – Yolngu people petitioned the Australian House of Representatives with a bark petition after the government sold part of the Arnhem Land reserve on 13 March to a bauxite mining company. The government did not consult the traditional owners. When bauxite mining at Nhulunbuy near Yirrkala went ahead, the Yolngu took their case against the mining company to the Northern Territory Supreme Court. Despite their claim not being upheld in the 1971 court decision, non-indigenous Australians were alerted to the need for indigenous representation in such decisions, and a permanent parliamentary standing committee was created to scrutinise developments at Yirrkala, among other initiatives related to the indigenous people's moral right to their lands.1 November – Indigenous Australians could vote in federal elections on the same basis as other electors when an amendment to the Commonwealth Electoral Act became law. The November 1963 election was the first federal election for Indigenous people in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Indigenous voting rights in other states had been in place since 1949.15 November - The Queensland Police Service raids the town of Mapoon, forcing residents at gunpoint to leave their houses and board a boat for relocation 200 km to the north.30 November – Federal election: The Coalition government was returned with an increased majority of 10 seats over the Australian Labor Party. The election was for the House of Representatives only.Science and technology
John Carew Eccles shares the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the synapse3 December – Australians could connect more easily by telephone with the rest of the world by International Direct Dialling with the opening of COMPAC, the Commonwealth Pacific cable. This was part of a scheme to connect the British Commonwealth by telephone.Arts and literature
Careful, He Might Hear You by Sumner Locke Elliott is awarded the Miles Franklin Literary Award
Short films produced in Australia included the following screened at the Venice Film Festival[1]
Adam and Eve – Dusan MarekAlong the Sepik – Ian DunlopRussell Drysdale – Dahl CollingsSidney Nolan – Dahl CollingsThey Found a Cave – Andrew Steane – XV Int. Festival Films for Young PeopleWilliam Dobell – Dahl CollingsOthers:
The Queen Returns – The 1963 Australian visit of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was filmed by the Commonwealth Film Unit. Much of the 30-minute film is devoted to Canberra and its history as the Queen's visit coincided with Canberra's Jubilee Celebrations – 50 years since the founding of the city.Nine Network founded as the "National Television Network"
The panel show Beauty and the Beast premieres on the Seven Network.
Athletics3 March – Dixie Willis breaks Lyudmila Shevtsova's world record (2:04.3) in the women's 800 metres, clocking 2:01.2 in Perth.CricketVictoria wins the Sheffield ShieldAustralia draws with England 1-1 and retains The AshesFootballBrisbane Rugby League premiership: Norths defeated Wests 18-8New South Wales Rugby League premiership: St. George defeated Western Suburbs 8-3South Australian National Football League premiership: won by Port AdelaideVictorian Football League premiership: Geelong defeated Hawthorn 109-60GolfAustralian Open: won by Gary PlayerAustralian PGA Championship: won by Colin JohnstonHorse RacingArctic Star wins the AJC OaksSometime wins the Caulfield CupSummer Regent wins the Cox PlatePago Pago wins the Golden SlipperGatum Gatum wins the Melbourne CupMotor RacingThe Australian Grand Prix was held at Warwick Farm, and was won by Jack Brabham driving a Brabham ClimaxThe Armstrong 500 was held at Bathurst, and was won by Harry Firth and Bob Jane driving a Ford Cortina Mk 1 GTSquashBritish Open Squash Championships: Heather Blundell wins the Women's ChampionshipTennisAustralian Open men's singles: Roy Emerson defeats Ken Fletcher 6-3 6-3 6-1Australian Open women's singles: Margaret Court defeats Jan Lehane O'Neill 6-2 6-2Davis Cup: Australia is defeated by the United States 2–3 in the 1963 Davis Cup finalFrench Open: Roy Emerson wins the Men's SinglesFrench Open: Lesley Turner Bowrey wins the Women's SinglesFrench Open: Roy Emerson and Manuel Santana win the Men's DoublesUS Open: Robyn Ebbern and Margaret Court win the Women's DoublesWimbledon: Margaret Court becomes the first Australian to win the Ladies' SinglesYachtingAstor takes line honours and Freya wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race5 January – Vanessa Browne-Ward, high jumper2 March – Anthony Albanese, politician17 March – John Platten, Australian Rules football player29 March – Elle Macpherson, model31 March – Paul Mercurio, actor and dancer8 May – Anthony Field, Australian guitarist, songwriter, producer, and actor (The Cockroaches and The Wiggles)13 September – Phillip Dutton, equestrian rider30 September – Stan Grant, journalist30 September – Greg Williams, Australian Rules football player23 October – Craig Bradley, Australian Rules football player15 November – Benny Elias, rugby league player16 November – Tim Ferguson, comedian (Doug Anthony All Stars)24 November – Stephen Lacey, author19 March – Lionel Hill, Premier of South Australia (born 1881)28 May – Margaret Preston, artist (born 1875)1 June – Walter Lee, Premier of Tasmania (born 1874)21 June – Harvey Sutton (81), track and field athlete (born 1882)10 October – Roy Cazaly, Australian Rules football player (born 1893)2 November – Daniel Mannix, Archbishop of Melbourne (born 1864) 