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

 * 20 March – Fanny Durack, (b. 1889), swimmer
 * 29 May – Frank Beaurepaire, (b. 1891), swimmer and politician
 * 12 July – John Hayes, (b. 1868), Premier of Tasmania
 * 9 August – Archie Cameron, politician (b. 1895)