See also: 1959 in Australia, 1961 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

• Monarch Elizabeth II
• Governor-General William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil
• Prime Minister Robert Menzies
• Youngest Prime Minister of Australia - Emmily Hourigan

State Premiers

• Premier of New South Wales Robert Heffron
• Premier of South Australia Sir Thomas Playford
• Premier of Queensland Frank Nicklin
• Premier of Tasmania Eric Reece
• Premier of Western Australia David Brand
• Premier of Victoria Henry Bolte

State Governors

• Governor of New South Wales Nevil Longbottom
• Governor of Queensland Sir Henry Abel Smith
• Governor of South Australia Sir Robert George (until 7 March)
• Governor of Tasmania Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan
• Governor of Victoria Sir Dallas Brooks
• Governor of Western Australia Sir Charles Gairdner

Events

• 7 March Arthur Calwell becomes leader of the Australian Labor Party.
• 10 June A TAA Fokker Friendship, Abel Tasman, crashes at Mackay, Queensland, killing 29 persons. To date (2009), this remains the worst loss of life in a peacetime air crash in Australia.
• 7 July An eight-year-old schoolboy, Graeme Thorne, is kidnapped in Sydney, apparently to extort money from his parents who had recently won the Sydney Opera House lottery.
• 19 July First reported skyjacking/hijacking in the world Trans Australia Airlines Flight 408
• 14 October The Warragamba Dam is opened by the Premier of New South Wales.

Science and technology

• Frank Macfarlane Burnet is announced joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine

Arts and literature

• Frank Macfarlane Burnet is announced as the inaugural winner of the Australian of the Year
• Judy Cassab wins the Archibald Prize
• The Irishman by Elizabeth O'Conner wins the Miles Franklin Literary Award

Television

The introduction of television in 1956 saw that cinema audiences halved. Television led to an increase in home entertainment. It changed the patterns of leisure and exposed Australians more than ever before to other cultures.

• 15 January The 2nd Annual Logie Awards are held the Savoy Hotel in Brighton, Victoria, although they are not televised. Graham Kennedy wins the "Star of the Year" (Gold Logie) award.

Film

Theatres and cinemas were popular venues for Australians. America was the biggest influence in film because of Hollywood. Britain also played a role in influencing Australian film making.

Music

Music was diverse during this time. People listened to classical and opera; jazz and blues; folk music and pop music. Australian musicians and singers also made it into world stages. Popular music was often connected with social protest movement and civil rights and campaigns. Peace, freedom, choice and difference were strong themes. Ballet was popularized in Australia but both ballet and opera continued to appeal to small minorities of the population. America had an enormous influence on Australian music, and American musicians tended to consistently top the 'pop' charts in Australia. A lot of people were listening to American music.

Sport

• 4 June Ian Sinfield wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:25:13.9 in Melbourne.
• 1 November Hi Jinx wins the Melbourne Cup
• New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
• Kurrewa IV takes line honours and Siandra wins handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
• Neale Fraser wins the men's singles at the Wimbledon championships
• Australia defeats Italy 4-1 in the Davis Cup final
• Jack Brabham wins the Formula One Championship for the second time

Births

• 18 January Graham Jennings, footballer
• 22 January Michael Hutchence, singer (died 1997)
• 23 January Greg Ritchie, cricketer
• 29 March Wayne Pearce, rugby league footballer and coach
• 19 April Roger Merrett, Australian rules footballer
• 20 April Debbie Flintoff-King, athlete
• 4 May Andrew Denton, television presenter
• 12 May Lisa Martin, athlete
• 26 May Dean Lukin, weightlifter
• 3 June Tracy Grimshaw, television presenter
• 3 June Carl Rackemann, cricketer
• 16 June Peter Sterling, rugby league commentator and former player
• 8 July Mal Meninga, rugby league footballer
• 4 August Tim Winton, writer
• 13 August Michael Richmond, ice speed skater
• 14 August Edi Krncevic, soccer player
• 28 September Gary Ayres, Australian rules footballer
• 24 October Ian Baker-Finch, golfer
• 4 December Glynis Nunn, athlete
• 29 December David Boon, cricketer

Deaths

• 12 January Nevil Shute (born 1899), writer
• 14 February Herbert Hays (born 1869), Tasmanian politician
• 3 April Thomas Marwick (born 1895), politician
• 10 April Arthur Benjamin (born 1893), composer
• 30 July Walter Lindrum (born 1898), billiards player
• 2 September Hector Hogan (born 1931), athlete
• 2 September Mick O'Halloran (born 1893), politician
• 6 October Caroline Grills (born 1890), serial killer
• 16 October Frank Timson (born 1909), politician
• 20 October Sir Charles Marr (born 1880), politician
• 24 November Arthur Seaforth Blackburn (born 1892), soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
• 30 December Mac Abbott (born 1877), politician