1975 in Australia
See also: 1974 in Australia, other events of 1975, 1976 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Contents |
Incumbents
- Queen of Australia - HM Queen Elizabeth II
- Governor General - Sir John Kerr
- Prime Minister - Gough Whitlam (until November 11), then Malcolm Fraser
- Premier of New South Wales - Sir Robert Askin (until January 3), then Tom Lewis
- Premier of South Australia - Don Dunstan
- Premier of Queensland - Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
- Premier of Tasmania - Eric Reece (until March 31), then Bill Neilson
- Premier of Western Australia - Charles Court
- Premier of Victoria - Rupert Hamer
Events
- January 5 - The Tasman Bridge in Hobart is struck by the ore carrier Lake Illawarra. The bridge partially collapses onto the vessel, which sinks. Seven crew and five motorists are killed
- January 19 - 2JJ, the predecessor of youth radio Triple J, commences broadcasting in Sydney
- March 21 - Malcolm Fraser replaces Billy Snedden as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia
- April 25 - The Australian Embassy in South Vietnam is closed and staff evacuated prior to the Fall of Saigon
- July 1 - Medibank is introduced, Australia Post and Telecom are formed from the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG)
- September 16 - Papua New Guinea gains its independence from Australia
- September 20 - Thirteen miners are killed in an underground coal mine explosion at the Kianga Mine at Moura, Queensland
- October 16 - The Balibo Five are killed by Indonesian troops in Portuguese Timor
- November 11 - The Governor General, John Kerr, dismisses the government of Gough Whitlam. Malcolm Fraser is installed as caretaker Prime Minister
- December 25 - Fifteen persons are killed in an arson attack at the Savoy Hotel in Kings Cross, New South Wales.
- Scientist John Cornforth is announced as Australian of the Year
Science & Technology
- John Cornforth shares the Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Arts and Literature
- Kevin Connor wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of The Hon Sir Frank Kitto, KBE
Film
- Picnic at Hanging Rock, directed by Peter Weir, is released
Television
- March 1 - Colour television is introduced
Sport
- Think Big wins the Melbourne Cup
- Western Australia wins the Sheffield Shield
- Kialoa takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Rampage is the handicap winner
- Czechoslovakia defeats Australia 3-0 in the Federation Cup
Births
- January 19 - Natalie Cook, beach volleyball player
- February 4 - Natalie Imbruglia, singer
- March 13 - Matt Sing, rugby league footballer
- April 19 - Jason Gillespie, cricketer
- May 21 - Anthony Mundine, rugby league footballer and boxer
- July 2 - Daniel Kowalski, swimmer
- July 17 - Loretta Harrop, triathlete
- August 7 - David Hicks, prisoner at Guantánamo Bay
- August 25 - Petria Thomas, swimmer
- September 1 - Natalie Bassingthwaighte, singer/actress
- October 9 - Mark Viduka, soccer player
Deaths
- September 27 - Jack Lang (b. 1876), Premier of New South Wales
- November 5 - Annette Kellerman (b. 1887), swimmer and film star
Categories
1975 in Australia