1973 in Australia

none March 2020 February 2012 The following lists events that happened during 1973 in Australia. Elizabeth II Sir Paul Hasluck Gough Whitlam 13,303,664 Patrick White SA, VIC, NSW, Referendum 1973 Incumbents thumb|upright|140px|Sir Paul Hasluck thumb|upright|140px|Gough Whitlam Monarch – Elizabeth II Governor-General – Sir Paul Hasluck Prime Minister – Gough Whitlam Deputy Prime Minister – Lance Barnard Opposition Leader – Billy Snedden Chief Justice – Sir Garfield Barwick State and territory leaders Premier of New South Wales – Sir Robert Askin Opposition Leader – Pat Hills (until 17 November), then Neville Wran Premier of Queensland – Joh Bjelke-Petersen Opposition Leader – Jack Houston Premier of South Australia – Don Dunstan Opposition Leader – Bruce Eastick Premier of Tasmania – Eric Reece Opposition Leader – Max Bingham Premier of Victoria – Rupert Hamer Opposition Leader – Clyde Holding Premier of Western Australia – John Tonkin Opposition Leader – Sir Charles Court Governors and administrators Governor of New South Wales – Sir Roden Cutler Governor of Queensland – Sir Colin Hannah Governor of South Australia – Sir Mark Oliphant Governor of Tasmania – Lieutenant General Sir Edric Bastyan (until 30 November), then Sir Stanley Burbury Governor of Victoria – Major General Sir Rohan Delacombe Governor of Western Australia – Major General Sir Douglas Kendrew Administrator of Norfolk Island – Edward Pickerd Administrator of the Northern Territory – Frederick Chaney (until 10 December), then Jock Nelson Administrator/High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea – Les Johnson Events 10 February – Australia's first casino, the Wrest Point Hotel Casino, opens in Hobart12 February 1973 First casino opens doors for public https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110707060 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042646/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110707060 live 28 February – The federal voting age is lowered from 21 to 18.1 March 1973 Bill to give vote at age 18 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136963816 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042650/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136963816 live The state of New South Wales had already enacted such a change in 1970. 2 March – Wellington Street bus station in Perth is opened by Western Australia's premier John TonkinAcott Kent End of line for city bus station https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/end-of-line-for-city-bus-station-ng-ya-363613 The West Australian 11 April 2023 4 January 2014 11 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230411103047/https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/end-of-line-for-city-bus-station-ng-ya-363613 live 8 March – Whiskey Au Go Go fire9 March 1973 Petrol bomb fire kills 15 in Brisbane nightclub https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136964951 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042637/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136964951 live 1 June – The first General Dynamics F-111 aircraft is delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force1 June 1973 The controversial F111 touches down at last https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110712337 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042643/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110712337 live 9 June – Disappearance of Jason Shannon11 June 1973 Man dies after abducting his son - now baby missing https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-man-dies-after-abducting-his-son/125711940 The Age 1 2 June 2023 3 June 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230603083649/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-man-dies-after-abducting-his-son/125711940/ liveSchipp Debbie 21 August 2016 Cold case: Four decades on, what happened to baby Jason? https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/cold-case-four-decades-on-what-happened-to-baby-jason/news-story/433177cc2ab7e9c3efafc48c3b005f3d news.com.au 2 June 2023 19 July – Lois D'Arcy was the first independent civil marriage celebrant ever appointed – by Attorney-General Lionel Murphy. 25 August - Disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon27 August 1973 Fears held for safety of missing SA girls https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110744634 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042648/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110744634 live 9 October - The fifty-dollar note was introduced 20 October – Sydney Opera House officially opened by Elizabeth IIRees Jacqueline 22 October 1973 Opera House opening was spectacular https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110753207 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042649/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110753207 live 1 December – Papua New Guinea is granted self-government prior to independence 31 December – AC/DC perform their first major gig in Sydney. Removal of the "White Australia Policy". Arts and literature 1973 in Australian literature Patrick White is announced as Australian of the Year15 January 1974 Award to Patrick White https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110756694 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042356/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110756694 live 21 September – The Jackson Pollock painting Blue Poles is controversially purchased by the Whitlam government for US$2 million (A$1.3 million).24 September 1973 Australia buys $1.3m painting https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110748955 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042358/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110748955 live "No award" was made for the Miles Franklin Award27 March 1974 No award https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110768988 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042400/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110768988 live Film Alvin PurpleMacDonald Dougal 19 December 1973 Pacy but shallow https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131699325 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042218/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131699325 live Television Certain Women (TV series) commences3 October 1973 Family conflicts in "Certain Women" https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51283029 Australian Women's Weekly 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042117/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51283029 live The novel Seven Little Australians adapted for television (10 part series)Newton Gloria 8 August 1973 A man of two cultures https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45653687 Australian Women's Weekly 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042115/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45653687 live The New South Wales Rugby Football League negotiates its first television deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.12 April 1973 Live RL on TV https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136970103 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003042122/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136970103 live Sport 8 September – Derek Clayton wins his fourth men's national marathon title, clocking 2:12:07.6 in Perth. 15 September – Manly-Warringah defeated Cronulla-Sutherland 10–7 in the 1973 NSWRFL season Grand Final, claiming their second straight premiership.17 September 1973 Premierships decided https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110747869 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003041932/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110747869 live Penrith finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon. Gala Supreme wins the Melbourne CupHourigan John 7 November 1973 Fate has a hand in Gala Supreme's game win https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131690627 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003041933/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131690627 live Western Australia wins the Sheffield Shield7 March 1973 WA's shield https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250612496 Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003041928/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250612496 live Helsall takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Ceil III is the handicap winner31 December 1973 Sydney-Hobart race to Ceil III https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131700979 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003041926/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131700979 live Australia defeats South Africa 3–0 in the Federation Cup Births 8 January – Jason Stevens, rugby league player and sportscaster 17 January – Chris Bowen, politician 22 January – Abi Tucker, actor and singer 31 January – Portia de Rossi, actress 4 February – James Hird, Australian footballer and coach 5 February – Luke Ricketson, rugby league playerhttps://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/like-father-like-son-20030723-gdh58g.html Like father like son 23 July 2003 Sydney Morning Herald 2 June 2022 18 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211118050800/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/like-father-like-son-20030723-gdh58g.html live 15 February – Sarah Wynter, actress 16 February – Catherine Freeman, athlete 20 February – Kimberley Davies, actor 28 February – Rodger Corser, Actor 26 March – Matt Burke, rugby union footballer 13 April – Tammy Cole, field hockey defender 19 April – George Gregan, rugby union player 26 April – Stephanie Graf, middle distance athlete 29 May – Malcolm Allen, swimmer 12 June – Darryl White, Australian rules footballer 21 June – Alyson Annan, field hockey player 24 June – Matt Drummond, film director, screenwriter and visual effects supervisor 27 July – Gorden Tallis, rugby league footballer 2 August – Susie O'Neill, swimmer 14 August – Kieren Perkins, swimmer 20 August – Scott Goodman, swimmer 22 August – Mark Hickman, field hockey goalkeeper 2 September – Matthew Dunn, swimmer 5 September – Jennifer Whittle, basketball player 18 September – Louise Sauvage, wheelchair athlete 22 September – Craig McRae, footballer 8 October – Toby Haenen, swimmer 14 October – Steven Bradbury, speed skater 18 October – Stephen Allan, golfer 23 October – David Beard, volleyball player 31 October – Andrew Constance, politician 1 November – Peta Murphy, politician (d. 2023) 6 November – Greg Warren, politician 20 November Sav Rocca, American football player and Australian rules footballer Matthew Smith, field hockey player 4 December – Steve Menzies, rugby league footballer 24 December – Kerry Nettle, politician 28 December – Alex Dimitriades, actor (Date Unknown) – Ann Shoebridge, milliner Deaths 18 January – Beatrice Bligh, gardener (b. 1916)Martha Rutledge Rosemary Beatrice (Bea) Bligh (1916–1973) 13 1993 bligh-rosemary-beatrice-bea-9527 March 31, 2024 5 April – John Coleman (born 1928), Australian rules footballer7 April 1973 John Coleman dead https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136969374 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 3 October 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003041718/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/136969374 live 21 April – Arthur Fadden (born 1894), former Prime Ministerhttps://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fadden-sir-arthur-william-10141 Australian Dictionary of Biography Fadden, Sir Arthur William (1894–1973) Margaret Bridson Cribb 1996 John Ritchie 14 Melbourne University Press 4 January 2022 25 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110525140155/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140134b.htm live 8 July – Arthur Calwell (born 1896), politician 9 July 1973 Arthur Calwell: Australian first, politician second https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110736801 The Canberra Times 3 October 2022 References 1973 in yes Australia Category:Years of the 20th century in Australia