1969

  • Period: to

    1969

  • Violet Town Railway Disaster

    The passenger train Southern Aurora collides head-on with a freight train on the new Melbourne to Sydney train line. Nine people are killed.
  • Change of General Governer

    Sir Paul Hasluck becomes Governor-General of Australia after the retirement of Lord Casey.
  • Hung Parliament

    The 1969 Tasmanian election is held, resulting in a hung parliament with the ALP and Liberals winning 17 seats each. The deadlock is broken when Kevin Lyons of the Centre Party forms a coalition government with the Liberals and becomes Deputy Premier under Angus Bethune.
  • Naval Disaster

    Melbourne-Evans collision – The Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne collides with the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in the South China Sea. Frank E. Evans is cut in half and sinks, killing 74 crew.
  • Equal Rights

    The Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission rules that equal pay for women doing the same work as men must be phased in by 1972.
  • Moon mission

    Apollo 11 is sent to space to land on the moon
  • Moon Mission

    The apollo 16 is launched by NASA to land on the moon
  • One Giant Leap for Mankind

    Apollo 11 lands on the moon and becomes one of the greatest achievement for mankind
  • Change of leadership

    A federal election is held. The incumbent Coalition government led by John Gorton defeats the Australian Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam.
  • Being Back The Troops

    Prime Minister John Gorton announces that a withdrawal of Australian Army troops from the Vietnam War would begin in 1970.