See also: 1950 in Australia, other events of 1951, 1952 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history. [edit] Incumbents [edit] State Premiers [edit] State Governors [edit] Events - January 1 – The 50th anniversary of Australian federation is celebrated.
- February 19 – Jean Lee becomes the last woman to be hanged in Australia, when she, Robert Clayton and Norman Andrews are executed in Melbourne for the murder of a 73-year-old man.
- March 1 – The Bank of Australasia merges with the Union Bank of Australia to form the ANZ Bank.
- March 9 – The High Court of Australia rules in the case Australian Communist Party v Commonwealth that the Communist Party Dissolution Bill 1950, passed by the parliament to ban the Communist Party of Australia, was unconstitutional.
- March 19 – The Governor-General, William McKell, issues a double dissolution of parliament for the second time in its history, citing the Senate's referral of the Commonwealth Bank Bill as a "failure to pass" the bill.
- April 12 – Conscription begins as the first call-up notice is issued under the National Service Act (1951), requiring Australian 18-year-old males to undergo compulsory military training.
- April 28 – A federal election is held. The Liberal government of Robert Menzies retains power.
- August 16 – The Australian Financial Review is first published.
- September 1 – The Anzus Treaty, between Australia, New Zealand and the United States, is signed.
- September 9 – Australia signs the Treaty of San Francisco, formalising peace with Japan.
- September 22 – A federal referendum is held, proposing to alter the Australian Constitution to allow the banning of the Communist Party. The referendum was not carried.
- October 4 – Francis McEncroe sells the first Chiko Rolls at the Wagga Wagga agricultural show.
- November 13 – William McKell is gazetted a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George, becoming the only Governor-General of Australia to be knighted during their term.
[edit] Science and technology The world of science was recreated in 1951. With the creation of the telephone and light bulb. [edit] Arts and literature [edit] Births - January 19 — Charles Blunt, politician
- January 20 — Clyde Sefton, road cyclist
- February 26 — Wayne Goss, Premier of Queensland
- April 29 — Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister of the ACT
- May 29 — Don Baird, pole vaulter
- July 4 — John Alexander, tennis player
- July 6 — Geoffrey Rush, actor
- July 31 — Evonne Goolagong Cawley, tennis player
- August 5 — John Jarratt, actor
- August 6 — Daryl Somers, television personality
- August 30 — Daniel Clark, track cyclist and road bicycle racer
- September 9 — Alexander Downer, politician
- September 27 — Geoff Gallop, Premier of Western Australia
- December 1 — Doug Mulray, radio personality
- December 18 — Andy Thomas, astronaut
- December 22 — Jan Stephenson, professional golfer
[edit] Deaths [edit] See also |
