# 1953 in Australia

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{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title alone is adequate; see [WP:SDNONE](/source/WP%3ASDNONE) -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2025}}
The following lists events that happened during '''1953 in Australia'''.

{{Infobox Australian year
| monarch = [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II)
| governor-general = [William McKell](/source/William_McKell), then [William Slim](/source/William_Slim)
| pm =[Robert Menzies](/source/Robert_Menzies)
| population = 8,815,362
| australian = 
| elections =[Senate](/source/1953_Australian_Senate_election), [WA](/source/Western_Australia), [NSW](/source/New_South_Wales), [SA](/source/South_Australia), [QLD](/source/Queensland)
}}
{{Year in Australia|1953}}

==Incumbents==
[[File:Portrait Menzies 1950s.jpg|thumb|upright|140px|[Robert Menzies](/source/Robert_Menzies)]]
*[Monarch](/source/Monarchy_in_Australia) – [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II)
*[Governor-General](/source/Governor-General_of_Australia) – [William McKell](/source/William_McKell) (until 8 May), then [Sir William Slim](/source/William_Slim%2C_1st_Viscount_Slim)
*[Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Australia) – [Robert Menzies](/source/Robert_Menzies)
*[Chief Justice](/source/Chief_Justice_of_Australia) – [Sir Owen Dixon](/source/Sir_Owen_Dixon)

===State Premiers===
*[Premier of New South Wales](/source/Premier_of_New_South_Wales) – [Joseph Cahill](/source/Joseph_Cahill)
*[Premier of Queensland](/source/Premier_of_Queensland) – [Vince Gair](/source/Vince_Gair)
*[Premier of South Australia](/source/Premier_of_South_Australia) – [Thomas Playford IV](/source/Thomas_Playford_IV)
*[Premier of Tasmania](/source/Premier_of_Tasmania) – [Robert Cosgrove](/source/Robert_Cosgrove)
*[Premier of Victoria](/source/Premier_of_Victoria) – [John Cain I](/source/John_Cain_(senior))
*[Premier of Western Australia](/source/Premier_of_Western_Australia) – [Ross McLarty](/source/Ross_McLarty) (until 23 February), then [Albert Hawke](/source/Albert_Hawke)

===State Governors===
*[Governor of New South Wales](/source/Governor_of_New_South_Wales) – [Sir John Northcott](/source/John_Northcott)
*[Governor of Queensland](/source/Governor_of_Queensland) – [Sir John Lavarack](/source/John_Lavarack)
*[Governor of South Australia](/source/Governor_of_South_Australia) – [Sir Robert George](/source/Robert_George_(RAF_officer)) (from 23 February)
*[Governor of Tasmania](/source/Governor_of_Tasmania) – [Sir Ronald Cross, 1st Baronet](/source/Sir_Ronald_Cross%2C_1st_Baronet)
*[Governor of Victoria](/source/Governor_of_Victoria) – [Sir Dallas Brooks](/source/Dallas_Brooks)
*[Governor of Western Australia](/source/Governor_of_Western_Australia) – [Sir Charles Gairdner](/source/Charles_Gairdner)

==Events==
[[File:StateLibQld 1 152415 Aerial view of the Story Bridge, 1953.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the [Story Bridge](/source/Story_Bridge), 1953]]
* 20 March – The ''Television Act'' is passed by parliament, setting regulations for the broadcast of [television in Australia](/source/television_in_Australia), although television transmission did not commence until 1956.
* 2 June – [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II)'s [coronation](/source/Coronation_of_Elizabeth_II) as [Queen of Australia](/source/Monarchy_in_Australia) takes place at [Westminster Abbey](/source/Westminster_Abbey) 
* 29 October – [British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Douglas DC-6](/source/BCPA_Flight_304), registration VH-BPE, en route from [Sydney](/source/Sydney), crashes on approach to [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco%2C_California), killing 19 people.
* 4 December – [Oil](/source/Oil) is discovered in the [Exmouth Gulf](/source/Exmouth_Gulf) off the coast of [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia).

==Science and technology==
The first town to [fluoridate the water supply](/source/Water_fluoridation) in Australia was [Beaconsfield, Tasmania](/source/Beaconsfield%2C_Tasmania).<ref>{{cite book | editor1 = Graham Aplin | editor2 = S.G. Foster | editor3 = Michael McKernan | title = Australians:Events and Places  | year = 1987 | publisher = Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates | location = Sydney, NSW, Australia | isbn = 0-521-34073-X | chapter = Tasmania | page = 366}}</ref>

==Arts and literature==
{{main|1953 in Australian literature}}
* [John Brack](/source/John_Brack) paints ''[http://artsearch.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=86648 Men's Wear]'' and ''[The New House](/source/The_New_House_(Brack))'' in [Oakleigh, Victoria](/source/Oakleigh%2C_Victoria)
* [Ivor Hele](/source/Ivor_Hele) wins the [Archibald Prize](/source/Archibald_Prize) with his portrait of Sir Henry Simpson Newland
* [Michael Kmit](/source/Michael_Kmit) wins the [Blake Prize for Religious Art](/source/Blake_Prize_for_Religious_Art) with his work ''The Evangelist John Mark''

==Sport==
thumb|upright|Winner of the Sun Girl Quest at Suttons Beach, 1953
* '''Athletics'''
** 26 September – [Roland Guy](/source/Roland_Guy) wins the men's national marathon title, clocking 2:24:48 in [Sydney](/source/Sydney).
* '''Cricket'''
** [South Australia](/source/Southern_Redbacks) wins the [Sheffield Shield](/source/Pura_Cup)
* '''Football'''
** 23 May: [Fitzroy](/source/Fitzroy_Football_Club) go within ten minutes of a team score of 0.0 (0), which would have been a [VFL](/source/Australian_Football_League) first, against [Footscray](/source/Footscray_Football_Club) in appalling conditions. [Allan Ruthven](/source/Allan_Ruthven) kicks a late goal to save them from this ignominy.
** 1 August: [Collingwood](/source/Collingwood_Football_Club) end [Geelong's](/source/Geelong_Football_Club) record 26-game unbeaten streak, which still stand, when they win 10.15 (75) to 7.13 (55).
** [South Australian National Football League premiership](/source/List_of_SANFL_Premiers): won by [West Torrens](/source/West_Torrens_Football_Club)
** [Victorian Football League premiership](/source/List_of_Australian_Football_League_premiers): [Collingwood](/source/Collingwood_Football_Club) defeated [Geelong](/source/Geelong_Football_Club) 77–65
* '''Rugby league'''
** [Brisbane Rugby League premiership](/source/Brisbane_Rugby_League_premiership): [Souths](/source/Souths_Logan_Magpies) defeated [Easts](/source/Easts_Tigers) 21–4
** [1953 NSWRFL season](/source/1953_NSWRFL_season) ends with [South Sydney](/source/South_Sydney_Rabbitohs) defeating [St. George](/source/St._George_Dragons) 31–12 in the Grand Final
**[1953 American All Stars tour of Australia and New Zealand](/source/1953_American_All_Stars_tour_of_Australia_and_New_Zealand) takes place with the Americans playing matches hosted by various Australian teams including the [New South Wales Blues](/source/New_South_Wales_rugby_league_team) and [Queensland Maroons](/source/Queensland_rugby_league_team).
* '''Golf'''
** [Australian Open](/source/Australian_Open_(golf)): won by [Norman Von Nida](/source/Norman_Von_Nida)
** [Australian PGA Championship](/source/Australian_PGA_Championship): won by [Ossie Pickworth](/source/Ossie_Pickworth)
* '''Horse racing'''
** ''My Hero'' wins the [Caulfield Cup](/source/Caulfield_Cup)
** ''Hydrogen'' wins the [Cox Plate](/source/Cox_Plate)
** ''Wodalla'' wins the [Melbourne Cup](/source/Melbourne_Cup)
* '''Motor racing'''
** The [Australian Grand Prix](/source/Australian_Grand_Prix) was held at [Albert Park](/source/Melbourne_Grand_Prix_Circuit) and won by [Doug Whiteford](/source/Doug_Whiteford) driving a [Talbot-Lago](/source/Talbot-Lago)
* '''Tennis'''
** [Australian Open men's singles](/source/List_of_Australian_Open_Men's_Singles_champions): [Ken Rosewall](/source/Ken_Rosewall) defeats [Mervyn Rose](/source/Mervyn_Rose) 6–0 6–3 6–4
** [Australian Open women's singles](/source/List_of_Australian_Open_Women's_Singles_champions): [Maureen Connolly](/source/Maureen_Connolly) defeats [Julie Sampson Haywood](/source/Julie_Sampson_Haywood) 6–3 6–2
** [Davis Cup](/source/Davis_Cup): [Australia](/source/Australia_Davis_Cup_team) defeats the [United States](/source/United_States_Davis_Cup_team) 3–2 in the [1953 Davis Cup](/source/1953_Davis_Cup) final
** [Wimbledon](/source/The_Championships%2C_Wimbledon): [Lew Hoad](/source/Lew_Hoad) and [Ken Rosewall](/source/Ken_Rosewall) win the [Men's Doubles](/source/List_of_Wimbledon_Doubles_champions)
* '''Yachting'''
** ''Solveig IV'' takes line honours and ''Ripple'' wins on handicap in the [Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race](/source/Sydney_to_Hobart_Yacht_Race)

==Births==
* 16 January – [Vic Aanensen](/source/Vic_Aanensen), Australian rules football player
* 4 February – [Pam Allan](/source/Pam_Allan), politician
* 5 February – [Rod Jones](/source/Rod_Jones_(author)), Australian novelist
* 14 February – [Greg Browning](/source/Greg_Browning), field hockey player
* 4 March 
** [Scott Hicks](/source/Scott_Hicks_(director)), film director
** [Ray Price](/source/Ray_Price_(rugby)), rugby league footballer
* 7 March – [Peter Webb](/source/Peter_Webb_(politician)), politician
* 15 March – [Randall Goff](/source/Randall_Goff), water polo player
* 17 March 
** [Margaret Jackson](/source/Margaret_Jackson_(executive)), businesswoman
** [Mary-Louise McLaws](/source/Mary-Louise_McLaws), epidemiologist (died 2023)
* 12 April – [Mike Munro](/source/Mike_Munro), journalist
* 16 April – [Peter Garrett](/source/Peter_Garrett), singer and politician
* 21 April
** [John Brumby](/source/John_Brumby), politician
** [Ron Hoenig](/source/Ron_Hoenig), politician and barrister
* 30 April – [Craig Baumann](/source/Craig_Baumann), politician
* 8 May
** [Linda Dessau](/source/Linda_Dessau), 29th [Governor of Victoria](/source/Governor_of_Victoria) (2015–2023)
** [Tony Doyle](/source/Tony_Doyle_(politician)), politician (died 1994)
* 20 May – [Robert Doyle](/source/Robert_Doyle), politician
* 16 June – [Sandra Nori](/source/Sandra_Nori), politician
* 24 June – [Michael Tuck](/source/Michael_Tuck), Australian Rules football player
* 1 July
** [David Gulpilil](/source/David_Gulpilil), actor (died 2021)
** [Allan Shearan](/source/Allan_Shearan), politician
* 5 July – [David Morrow](/source/David_Morrow_(commentator)), sports commentator (died 2024)
* 13 July – [Andrew Tink](/source/Andrew_Tink), politician
* 21 July – [Jeff Fatt](/source/Jeff_Fatt), musician ([The Cockroaches](/source/The_Cockroaches) and [The Wiggles](/source/The_Wiggles))
* 23 July – [Geoff Corrigan](/source/Geoff_Corrigan), politician
* 27 July – [Yahoo Serious](/source/Yahoo_Serious), filmmaker
* 17 August – [Noni Hazlehurst](/source/Noni_Hazlehurst), actress
* 26 August – [General David Hurley, AC, DSC](/source/David_Hurley), [Chief of the Defence Force](/source/Chief_of_the_Defence_Force_(Australia)) (2011–2014)
* 9 September –  [Janet Fielding](/source/Janet_Fielding), actress
* 11 September – [Renée Geyer](/source/Ren%C3%A9e_Geyer), singer (died 2023)
* 27 September – [Greg Ham](/source/Greg_Ham), musician ([Men at Work](/source/Men_at_Work)) (died 2012)
* 13 November – [Bob Brett](/source/Bob_Brett), tennis coach (died 2021)
* 25 November – [Graham Eadie](/source/Graham_Eadie), rugby league footballer
* 12 December – [Martin Ferguson](/source/Martin_Ferguson_(politician)), politician

==Deaths==
<!--[[File:Portrait of the Right Hon. J. H. Scullin.png|100px|thumb|[James Scullin](/source/James_Scullin)]]-->
* [7 January](/source/7_January) – [Frank Bottrill](/source/Frank_Bottrill), blacksmith and inventor of a variant of the [dreadnaught wheel](/source/dreadnaught_wheel) (b. [1871](/source/1871)) 
* [28 January](/source/28_January) – [James Scullin](/source/James_Scullin), 9th [Prime Minister of Australia](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Australia) (b. [1876](/source/1876))
* [12 February](/source/12_February) – [Sir Hal Colebatch](/source/Hal_Colebatch), 12th [Premier of Western Australia](/source/Premier_of_Western_Australia) (born in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)) (b. [1872](/source/1872))
* [18 February](/source/18_February) – [Denis Lutge](/source/Denis_Lutge), rugby league and union footballer (b. [1879](/source/1879))
* [6 March](/source/6_March) – [Stephen Moreno](/source/Stephen_Moreno), composer (born in [Spain](/source/Restoration_(Spain)) and died in [France](/source/French_Fourth_Republic)) (b. [1889](/source/1889))
* [2 May](/source/2_May) – [Trevor Oldham](/source/Trevor_Oldham), 13th [Deputy Premier of Victoria](/source/Deputy_Premier_of_Victoria) (died in [India](/source/India)) (b. [1900](/source/1900))
* [22 May](/source/22_May) – [Louis Lavater](/source/Louis_Lavater), composer (b. [1867](/source/1867))
* [25 August](/source/25_August) – [Jessie Aspinall](/source/Jessie_Aspinall), doctor, first female junior medical resident at the [Royal Prince Alfred Hospital](/source/Royal_Prince_Alfred_Hospital) (b. [1880](/source/1880))<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/aspinall-jessie-strahorn-5077 |title=Aspinall, Jessie Strahorn (1880–1953) |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703101709/https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/aspinall-jessie-strahorn-5077 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [1 September](/source/1_September) – [Bernard O'Dowd](/source/Bernard_O'Dowd), journalist, author, and poet (b. [1866](/source/1866_in_Australia))<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography|last= Wallace-Crabbe|first= C.|year=1988|id=A110067b|title= O'Dowd, Bernard Patrick (1866–1953)|accessdate=2008-02-25 }}</ref>
* [2 December](/source/2_December) – [Reginald Baker](/source/Reginald_Baker_(athlete)), athlete, sports promoter and film actor (died in the [United States](/source/United_States)) (b. [1884](/source/1884))
* [20 December](/source/20_December) – [King O'Malley](/source/King_O'Malley), Tasmanian politician (born in the [United States](/source/United_States)) (b. [1858](/source/1858))

==See also==
* [List of Australian films of the 1950s](/source/List_of_Australian_films_of_the_1950s)

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category}}

{{Years in Australia}}
{{Oceania topic|1953 in|countries_only=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1953 in Australia}}
Category:1953 in Australia
Australia
Category:Years of the 20th century in Australia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [1953 in Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_in_Australia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_in_Australia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.