1979 in Australia

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The following lists events that happened during 1979 in Australia.

← 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

• 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

• 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]

• 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
  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
  Shepparton, Victoria.^[25]

• 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

• 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 –
  0–10 Network.^[32]

Sport

• 14 January –
  Gillette Cup
  title.
• 25 March – Australia is represented by nine
  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 –
  VFL Park
  . Their score of 36.22 (238) was a record until 1992.
• 12 August –
  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
  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

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• 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. ^ ^{a b} 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. ^ ^{a b} Robertson, David (12 April 1979). "Trucks roll, city gets food supplies". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
8. ^ ^{a b c} "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. ^ ^{a b} "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. ^ ^{a b c d e} 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. ^ ^{a b} 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. ^ ^{a b} 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.