1979 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1979 in Australia.

1979 in Australia
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Sir Zelman Cowen
Prime minister	Malcolm Fraser
Population	14,359,255
Australian of the Year	Neville Bonner and Harry Butler
Elections	VIC, TAS, SA

← 1978 1977 1976 1979 in Australia → 1980 1981 1982
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	Other events of 1979 Timeline of Australian history

Incumbents

Sir Zelman Cowen

Malcolm Fraser

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Sir Zelman Cowen
• Prime Minister – Malcolm Fraser
  • Deputy Prime Minister – Doug Anthony
  • Opposition Leader – Bill Hayden
• Chief Justice – Sir Garfield Barwick

State and territory leaders

• Premier of New South Wales – Neville Wran
  • Opposition Leader – John Mason
• Premier of Queensland – Joh Bjelke-Petersen
  • Opposition Leader – Ed Casey
• Premier of South Australia – Don Dunstan (until 15 February), then Des Corcoran (until 18 September), then David Tonkin
  • Opposition Leader – David Tonkin (until 18 September), then Des Corcoran (until 2 October), then John Bannon
• Premier of Tasmania – Doug Lowe
  • Opposition Leader – Max Bingham (until 7 August), then Geoff Pearsall
• Premier of Victoria – Rupert Hamer
  • Opposition Leader – Frank Wilkes
• Premier of Western Australia – Sir Charles Court
  • Opposition Leader – Ron Davies
• Chief Minister of the Northern Territory – Paul Everingham
  • Opposition Leader – Jon Isaacs
• Chief Minister of Norfolk Island – David Buffett (from 10 August)

Governors and administrators

• Governor of New South Wales – Sir Roden Cutler
• Governor of Queensland – Sir James Ramsay
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Keith Seaman
• Governor of Tasmania – Sir Stanley Burbury
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Henry Winneke
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Wallace Kyle
• Administrator of Norfolk Island – Desmond O'Leary (until 4 September), then Peter Coleman
• Administrator of the Northern Territory – John England

Events

January

• 4 January — Australia's highest daily rainfall, 1,140 millimetres or 44.88 inches, is recorded at Bellenden Ker Top Station, Queensland.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 9 January — Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony signs a pact to allow uranium mining to begin at the Ranger Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory. ^[1] The pact gives the authority to develop the 100,000 tonne deposit to the Australian Atomic Energy Commission, Peko-Wallsend and the Electrolytic Zinc Company for a period of 21 years.
• 31 January — Bellenden Ker Top Station in Queensland receives the highest monthly rainfall total on record, with a total of 5,387 millimetres or 212.09 inches of rain recorded. ^[2]

February

• 9 February – Associated Securities Limited, Australia's fourth-largest finance company, is placed into receivership. In a statement to the stock exchange, ASL directors state that the results for the six months to 31 December had shown a loss of $2.5 million, plus an extraordinary loss of $1 million from foreign exchange movements. ^[3]
• 12 February – Harry M. Miller's Computicket theatre and sporting booking agency collapses. ^[4]

March

• 9 March – The Arbitration Commission awards Australian women the right to six weeks' compulsory unpaid maternity leave with the option of extending the leave to one year. ^[5] The provisions, which will flow to all awards covering women in the private sector, will take effect on 2 April. ^[5]

April

• 4 April – Domico Speranza hijacks a Pan-Am plane at Sydney Airport for 4 1/2 hours until shot dead by police. ^[6]
• 11 April – A truck drivers' blockade, which had disrupted the eastern states for 10 days, ends. ^[7] The truck drivers had been protesting against state road taxes and low cartage rates. ^[7]

May

• 24 May – James William Miller, aged 39, is charged with the Truro murders - the murders of four young women 100 kilometres north-east of Adelaide. ^[8] A fifth body is found with police searching for two more bodies, bringing the number of victims to a total of seven. ^{[8] [9]} Miller is charged with murdering Veronica Knight, 18, Sylvia Michelle Pittmann, 16, Vicki May Mowell, 26, and Connie Iordanides, 16. ^[8]

June

• 8 June – Philip Silleny attempts to hijack a TAA aircraft near Brisbane but is disarmed by hostess Esme Qazim and other crew. ^[10]
• 9 June –
  • A fire at Luna Park Sydney kills seven. ^[11] Four young boys, a father and his two young sons die when the fire, believed to be caused by an electrical fault, engulf the ride. ^[12] The park is forced to close.
  • Australia's first modern uranium mine opens at Nabarlek in Arnhem Land. ^[13] A $25,000 party is held to celebrate the launch of the mine, which is also the first to open on Aboriginal tribal land. ^[13]
• 21 June – Up to a million workers stop work across the country to protest the arrest of unionists in Western Australia for addressing a public meeting without police permission, causing public transport, industry and commercial services to be thrown into disarray. ^{[14] [15]}
• 23 June – New South Wales Premier Neville Wran opens the Eastern Suburbs six-station railway line which runs from Sydney city to Bondi Junction. ^[16] The railway line has been a source of continuing controversy since work on it began. In 1976, Neville Wran referred to the project as probably "the most monumental financial scandal" in the state's history. ^[17]

July

• 1 July –
  • Commonwealth death duties are abolished.
  • Responsibility for education in the Northern Territory is transferred from the Federal to the Northern Territory Government.
• 11 July – The American space station Skylab crashes in Esperance, Western Australia. ^{[18] [19]}
• 19 July – The Miss Universe final is celebrated in Perth. ^{[20] [21]}
• 20 July – Inaugural meeting of the National Farmers' Federation. ^[22]
• 24 July – 14 coal miners die in a lethal gas explosion at Appin Colliery in New South Wales. ^[23]

August

• 29 August – Sydney's new heliport at Darling Harbour is officially opened by Neville Wran. ^[24]
• 30 August – Six die when a Cessna 206 plane crashes near Shepparton, Victoria. ^[25]

September

• 22 September – The standing conference of Canonical Orthodox churches in Australia is established.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 26 September – New South Wales Attorney-General Frank Walker tables the 960-page Finnane Report in state parliament. ^[26] The New South Wales Government gags Opposition calls for a debate report only 30 minutes after it is tabled. ^[26]
• 27 September –
  • Australia announces the abolition of traditional trade preferences with Britain.^{[ citation needed ]}
  • Ian Sinclair resigns as Federal Primary Industry Minister following allegations that he forged his father's signature on his family's annual returns. ^[26] According to the Finnane Report tabled in State Parliament, Ian Sinclair was dishonest in arranging loans from a group of companies of which he was "de facto managing director" to the family pastoral company. ^[26] Sinclair had denied the allegations the day before. ^[26]

October

• 7 October – The Australia Refugee Advisory Council is established. ^[27]
• 14 October – Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Bob Hawke wins preselection for the safe ALP federal seat of Wills, making way for him to enter federal politics. ^[28] Hawke defeated the Socialist Left candidate Gerry Hand winning 38 votes from the 70-member selection panel. ^[28]
• 19 October – The Australian Federal Police is established under the command of Colin Woods. ^[29]
• 20 October – Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser proclaims the first section of the Great Barrier Reef (the Capricornia section) a national park, making it the third Australian national park to be declared this year. ^[30] Malcolm Fraser also announces the allocation of $300,000 to research projects to be set up in the region to increase the Federal Government's knowledge of this area. ^[30]

November

• 5 November – The first New South Wales Lotto draw takes place. No-one chose the six winning numbers in the draw, so only half of the first prize – $193,576 – will be divided among the five members of the in the Money syndicate.
• 6 November – The Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking (Woodward Royal Commission) reports to the New South Wales Parliament, recommending increased penalties and no concessions for soft drugs.
• 30 November – The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), at a meeting of 24 major unions, rejects proposals to block the mining export of uranium.

December

• 16 December – Sunday trading in Sydney public bars begins.

Arts and literature

Main article: 1979 in Australian literature

• Wes Walters wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Philip Adams
• David Ireland's novel A Woman of the Future wins the Miles Franklin Award

Film

• My Brilliant Career, directed by Gillian Armstrong, is released
• Mad Max

Television

• 11 February – The Australian 60 Minutes begins on the Nine Network. ^[31]
• 27 February – Prisoner makes its debut on the 0–10 Network. ^[32]

Sport

• 14 January – Tasmania beats Western Australia by 47 runs to win their first Gillette Cup title.
• 25 March – Australia is represented by nine long-distance runners (all men), including Robert de Castella, at the seventh IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Limerick, Ireland. Steve Austin is Australia's best finisher, claiming the 29th spot (38:36.0) in the race over 12 kilometres.
• 28 April – Collingwood beat a sixty-year-old record for the greatest VFL winning margin when they demoralise St Kilda by 178 points, beating South Melbourne's 171-point margin also against St Kilda, from 1919.
• 28 July – Fitzroy set a still-standing record winning margin when they beat Melbourne by 190 points at VFL Park. Their score of 36.22 (238) was a record until 1992.
• 12 August – Robert de Castella wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:13:23 in Perth.
• 22 September: The 1979 NSWRFL season culminates in minor premiers St. George's 17–13 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown in the Grand Final. North Sydney finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
• 29 September Carlton Football Club wins the 1979 VFL Grand Final over Collingwood.
• 6 November – Hyperno wins the Melbourne Cup
• Victoria wins the Sheffield Shield
• Bumblebee IV takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Screw Loose is the handicap winner
• England defeats Australia 5–1 in The Ashes
• Australia wins the Admiral's Cup
• Jack Newton wins the Australian Open golf championship
• The National Basketball League is founded

Births

• 1 January – Brody Dalle, singer-songwriter
• 2 January – Robert Newbery, diver
• 3 January – Brooke Morrison, field hockey striker
• 6 January – Adrian Rainey, rugby league player
• February 12 – Jesse Spencer, actor and musician
• 15 February – James Harvey, basketball player
• 4 March – Geoff Huegill, swimmer
• 12 March – Jamie Dwyer, field hockey forward
• 16 March – Suzie Faulkner, field hockey striker
• 3 April – Sasa Ognenovski, Footballer
• 4 April
  • Heath Ledger, actor (died 2008)
  • Rebecca Stoyel, gymnast
• 9 April – Graeme Brown, cyclist
• 11 April – Danielle de Niese, opera singer
• 18 April – Zain Wright, field hockey midfielder
• 22 April – Daniel Johns, musician
• 4 June – Jade MacRae, singer
• 5 June – Matthew Scarlett, footballer and coach
• 7 June – Anna Torv, actress
• 11 June – Amy Duggan, Australian footballer and journalist
• 7 July – Loudy Tourky, diver
• 10 July – Russell Hinder, basketball player
• 15 July – Travis Fimmel, actor and model
• 24 July – Rose Byrne, actress
• 3 August – Nathan Crosswell, basketball player
• 9 August – Michael Kingma, basketball player
• 14 August – Paul Burgess, pole vaulter
• 16 August
  • Ian Moran, cricketer
  • Adam Darragh, basketball player
• 23 August – Lance Whitnall, Australian Rules footballer
• 12 September – Aaron Hopkins, field hockey defender
• 17 September – Chris Minns, politician
• 20 September – Damien Ryan, basketball player
• 29 September – Nathan Foley, singer (Hi 5)
• 11 October – Ryan Harris, cricketer
• 20 October – Tim Neesham, water polo player
• 24 October – Matthew Hadgraft, cabaret artist
• 6 November – Peter Ceawford, basketball player
• 9 November – Oliver Ackland, actor
• 12 November
  • Chad Cornes, footballer
  • Matt Stevic, footballer and umpire
• 16 November – Salli Wills, gymnast
• 6 December – Tim Cahill, soccer player
• 15 December – Sam Cawthorn, motivational speaker, author & entrepreneur
• 21 December – Stephen Lambert, field hockey goalkeeper

Deaths

• 7 January – Ivan Stedman, Olympic swimmer (b. 1895) ^[33]
• 15 April – Sir David Brand, 19th Premier of Western Australia (b. 1912) ^[34]
• 16 April – Frank Stewart, New South Wales politician and rugby league footballer (b. 1923) ^[35]
• 21 May – Walter Skelton, New South Wales politician (b. 1883) ^[36]
• 4 June – Elena Domenica Rubeo, Australian community worker and businessperson (b. 1896) ^[37]
• 6 June – Ion Idriess, author (b. 1889) ^[38]
• 30 June – Jim Southee, New South Wales politician (b. 1902) ^[39]
• 1 September – Mick Cronin, Australian rules footballer and television commentator (b. 1911)^{[ citation needed ]}
• 21 December – Eric Joseph Wright, medical administrator and public servant (b. 1912)^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• 1979 in Australian television
• List of Australian films of 1979

References

1. Thomas, Tony (10 January 1979). "U sales: '$150m by 1980s'". The Age. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
2. "Rainfall and temperature records". Bureau of Meteorology. 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
3. Haley, Ken (10 February 1979). "Probe into ASL starts". The Age. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
4. "Computicket closes its doors". The Age. 13 February 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
5. Innes, Prue (10 March 1979). "Commission backs maternity leave". The Age. p. 5. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
6. Robertson, David (5 April 1979). "Man dies, shot in hijack attempt". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
7. Robertson, David (12 April 1979). "Trucks roll, city gets food supplies". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
8. "Search continues as fifth Truro body found - Man, 39, in Adelaide court". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 May 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
9. "Identity of sixth Truro victim known, police say". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
10. "Pilot held at gunpoint on TAA plane in Brisbane". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press/Associated Press. 9 June 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
11. Molloy, Paul (11 June 1979). "Ghost Train toll rises to 7". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
12. "Ghost Train checked in 1977". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 June 1979. p. 2. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
13. "Aust uranium mine opens". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 12 June 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
14. Martin, Keith (21 June 1979). "300,000 to strike in New South Wales". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
15. Gordon, Michael; Doyle, Michael; Mayman, Jan; Elias, David (22 June 1979). "More strikes threatened - Drop charges, change WA law: unions". The Age. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
16. Stephens, Tony (24 June 1979). "Century late but Premier still says Eastward Ho!". The Sun-Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
17. O'Hara, John (30 June 1976). "Board to consider rail line's future". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
18. Sandilands, Ben; Macey, Richard; Steketee, Mike (12 July 1979). "Skylab hits West Aust". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
19. Mayman, Jan; Haley, Ken (13 July 1979). "Hundreds hunt Skylab bounty". The Age. p. 1. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
20. Mayman, Jan (21 July 1979). "Upstaged, downtaged". The Age. p. 3. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
21. Campbell, Lance (21 July 1979). "Beauty and the beholders". The Age. p. 19. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
22. Nasht, Simon (20 July 1979). "A power take-off". The Age. p. 9. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
23. O'Donnell, Michael; Molloy, Paul; Brooks, Geraldine (26 July 1979). "All 14 bodies out of Appin disaster pit; Appin: a town of tired, haggard faces". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
24. "Heliport opened". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 August 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
25. Murdoch, Lindsay; Comerford, Damien (31 August 1979). "Plane crash kills six". The Age. p. 1. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
26. Kruger, Andrew; Bowers, Peter; Ellercamp, Paul (27 September 1979). "2am: Sinclair resigns". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
27. "Govt refugee body set up". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 October 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
28. Ballantyne, Tom (15 October 1979). "Hawke wins selction, but MP loses seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
29. "Federal police force 'change for better' for ACT". The Canberra Times. 19 October 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
30. Kruger, Andrew (22 October 1979). "First stage of Barrier Reef park declared". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
31. "Advertisement: 60 Minutes premiere". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 February 1979. p. 86. Retrieved 13 January 2024. The National Nine Network and BHP proudly present 60 Minutes
32. Courtis, Brian (27 February 1979). "Arresting view of the inside". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
33. Harry Gordon (2002). John Ritchie; Diane Langmore (eds.). Stedman, Ivan Cuthbert (1895–1979). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 16. Melbourne University Press. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
34. "Sir David, a man of 'foresight and drive'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
35. "Frank Stewart, MP, 'dedicated Labor man'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1979. p. 8. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
36. "SKELTON, Walter Peden Joyce MBE". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 May 1979. p. 25. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
37. O'Connor, Desmond. "Helping People Has Been My Happiness: The Contribution of Elena Rubeo to the Italian Community in South Australia" (PDF). Retrieved 29 December 2012.
38. "Ion Idriess: he sold 3m books". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 June 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
39. "SOUTHEE, James Bernard". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 July 1979. p. 24. Retrieved 14 January 2024.