1970 in Australia

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

Incumbents

• Prime Minister – John Gorton
• Governor-General – Paul Hasluck
• Premier of New South Wales – Robert Askin
• Premier of South Australia – Steele Hall; Don Dunstan
• Premier of Queensland – Joh Bjelke-Petersen
• Premier of Tasmania – Angus Bethune
• Premier of Western Australia – David Brand
• Premier of Victoria – Henry Bolte

Events

• 17 January – Cyclone Ada hits Central Queensland, killing 14.
• 21 April – The Hutt River Province Principality is established.
• 3 May – A new international terminal is opened at Sydney Airport
• 1 July – Melbourne Airport is officially opened.
• 15 October – A portion of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne collapses, killing 35
• Pope Paul VI visits Australia.
• Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family tour Australia.

Science and technology

With the arrival of Asian immigrants after the abolition of the White Australia policy, Australia began mass productions of paper, and gunpowder.

Arts and literature

• Germaine Greer publishes her book, The Female Eunuch.
• Eric Smith wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait Gruzman – Architect
• Frederick Bates wins the Wynne Prize for landscape with his painting Redfern – Southern Portal
• Dal Stivens's novel A Horse of Air wins the Miles Franklin Award

Film

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it.

Sport

• 19 September — The South Sydney Rabbitohs defeated Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the NSWRL Grand Final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Souths captain John Sattler played most of the game with a broken jaw.
• 26 September – John Farrington wins his second men's national marathon title, clocking 2:15:27 in Werribee.
• Baghdad Note wins the Melbourne Cup.
• Victoria wins the Sheffield Shield.
• Buccaneer takes line honours and Pacha wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
• The US yacht Intrepid defeats the Australian yacht Gretel II in the America's Cup.
• Australia defeats Germany 3-0 in the Federation Cup.
• Margaret Court becomes the second woman to win the Grand Slam of tennis.
• John Newcombe wins both the singles and doubles championships at Wimbledon.
• Johnny Famechon defeats Fighting Harada to retain the WBC featherweight championship.

Births

• 1 January – Shelley O'Donnell, netballer
• 8 January – Rachel Friend, actress
• 27 January – Bradley Clyde, rugby league footballer
• 9 February – Glenn McGrath, cricketer
• 10 February – Melissa Doyle, television personality
• 25 February – Peter Lew, businessman
• 4 April – Jason Stoltenberg, tennis player
• 11 May – Dean Capobianco, track and field sprinter
• 25 May – Danni Roche, field hockey player
• 8 June – Stephen Renouf, rugby league footballer
• 4 July – Tony Vidmar, soccer player
• 8 July – Lisa Powell, field hockey forward
• 10 July – Adam Hills, comedian and television presenter
• 13 July – Sandon Stolle, tennis player
• 19 July – Ashley Paske, actor
• 27 August – Andy Bichel, cricketer
• 4 September – Deni Hines, singer
• 8 October - Simon Lunn, rugby player and long distance runner
• 17 November – Tania Zaetta, television personality
• 18 November – Peta Wilson, actress
• 26 November – Dave Hughes, comedian

Deaths

• 1 May – Nan Chauncy (born 1900), children's author
• 13 May – William Dobell (born 1899), artist and sculptor
• 21 May – E. L. Grant Watson (born 1885), writer and anthropologist
• 2 July – Jessie Street (born 1889), suffragette and feminist
• 12 December – Doris Blackburn (born 1889), women's rights activist and politician
• 14 December – William Slim (born 1897), former Governor General