1973 in Australia

Decades:	1950s; 1960s; 1970s; 1980s; 1990s;
See also:	1973 in Australian literature; Other events of 1973; ; Timeline of Australian history;

1973 in Australia
1973 in Australia
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime minister	Gough Whitlam
Population	13,303,664
Australian of the Year	Patrick White
Elections	SA, VIC, NSW, Referendum

The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

The following lists events that happened during 1973 in Australia.

Incumbents

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 Hobart^[1]
28 February – The federal voting age is lowered from 21 to 18.^[2] 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 Tonkin^[3]
8 March – Whiskey Au Go Go fire^[4]
1 June – The first General Dynamics F-111 aircraft is delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force^[5]
9 June – Disappearance of Jason Shannon^[6]^[7]
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 Gordon^[8]
20 October – Sydney Opera House officially opened by Elizabeth II^[9]
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

Patrick White is announced as Australian of the Year^[10]
21 September – The Jackson Pollock painting Blue Poles is controversially purchased by the Whitlam government for US$2 million (A$1.3 million).^[11]
"No award" was made for the Miles Franklin Award^[12]

Film

Alvin Purple^[13]

Television

Certain Women (TV series) commences^[14]
The novel Seven Little Australians adapted for television (10 part series)^[15]
The New South Wales Rugby Football League negotiates its first television deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.^[16]

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] Penrith finish in last position, claiming the wooden spoon.
Gala Supreme wins the Melbourne Cup^[18]
Western Australia wins the Sheffield Shield^[19]
Helsall takes line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Ceil III is the handicap winner^[20]
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 player^[21]
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)^[22]
5 April – John Coleman (born 1928), Australian rules footballer^[23]
21 April – Arthur Fadden (born 1894), former Prime Minister^[24]
8 July – Arthur Calwell (born 1896), politician^[25]

References

^ "First casino opens doors for public". The Canberra Times. 12 February 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Bill to give vote at age 18". The Canberra Times. 1 March 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ Acott, Kent (4 January 2014). "End of line for city bus station". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
^ "Petrol bomb fire kills 15 in Brisbane nightclub". The Canberra Times. 9 March 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "The controversial F111 touches down at last". The Canberra Times. 1 June 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Man dies after abducting his son - now baby missing". The Age. 11 June 1973. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
^ Schipp, Debbie (21 August 2016). "Cold case: Four decades on, what happened to baby Jason?". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
^ "Fears held for safety of missing SA girls". The Canberra Times. 27 August 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ Rees, Jacqueline (22 October 1973). "Opera House opening was spectacular". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Award to Patrick White". The Canberra Times. 15 January 1974. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Australia buys $1.3m painting". The Canberra Times. 24 September 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "No award". The Canberra Times. 27 March 1974. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ MacDonald, Dougal (19 December 1973). "Pacy but shallow". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Family conflicts in "Certain Women"". Australian Women's Weekly. 3 October 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ Newton, Gloria (8 August 1973). "A man of two cultures". Australian Women's Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Live RL on TV". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Premierships decided". The Canberra Times. 17 September 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ Hourigan, John (7 November 1973). "Fate has a hand in Gala Supreme's game win". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "WA's shield". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 7 March 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Sydney-Hobart race to Ceil III". The Canberra Times. 31 December 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ "Like father like son". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
^ Rutledge, Martha (1993). "Rosemary Beatrice (Bea) Bligh (1916–1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
^ "John Coleman dead". The Canberra Times. 7 April 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ Margaret Bridson Cribb (1996). John Ritchie (ed.). Fadden, Sir Arthur William (1894–1973). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 14. Melbourne University Press. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
^ "Arthur Calwell: Australian first, politician second". The Canberra Times. 9 July 1973. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[1] "First casino opens doors for public". The Canberra Times. 12 February 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[2] "Bill to give vote at age 18". The Canberra Times. 1 March 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[3] Acott, Kent (4 January 2014). "End of line for city bus station". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.

[4] "Petrol bomb fire kills 15 in Brisbane nightclub". The Canberra Times. 9 March 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[5] "The controversial F111 touches down at last". The Canberra Times. 1 June 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[6] "Man dies after abducting his son - now baby missing". The Age. 11 June 1973. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.

[7] Schipp, Debbie (21 August 2016). "Cold case: Four decades on, what happened to baby Jason?". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2023.

[8] "Fears held for safety of missing SA girls". The Canberra Times. 27 August 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[9] Rees, Jacqueline (22 October 1973). "Opera House opening was spectacular". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[10] "Award to Patrick White". The Canberra Times. 15 January 1974. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[11] "Australia buys $1.3m painting". The Canberra Times. 24 September 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[12] "No award". The Canberra Times. 27 March 1974. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[13] MacDonald, Dougal (19 December 1973). "Pacy but shallow". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[14] "Family conflicts in "Certain Women"". Australian Women's Weekly. 3 October 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[15] Newton, Gloria (8 August 1973). "A man of two cultures". Australian Women's Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[16] "Live RL on TV". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[17] "Premierships decided". The Canberra Times. 17 September 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[18] Hourigan, John (7 November 1973). "Fate has a hand in Gala Supreme's game win". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[19] "WA's shield". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 7 March 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[20] "Sydney-Hobart race to Ceil III". The Canberra Times. 31 December 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[21] "Like father like son". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2022.

[22] Rutledge, Martha (1993). "Rosemary Beatrice (Bea) Bligh (1916–1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 31 March 2024.

[23] "John Coleman dead". The Canberra Times. 7 April 1973. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[24] Margaret Bridson Cribb (1996). John Ritchie (ed.). Fadden, Sir Arthur William (1894–1973). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 14. Melbourne University Press. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2022.

[25] "Arthur Calwell: Australian first, politician second". The Canberra Times. 9 July 1973. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

v t e Years in Australia (1788–present)
18th century	1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800
19th century	1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
20th century	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
21st century	2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Timeline of Australian history

v t e 1973 in Oceania
Sovereign states	Australia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Associated states of New Zealand	Cook Islands Niue