Oz in the 60s
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oz60s.bsky.social
Oz in the 60s
@oz60s.bsky.social
Australia in the 1960s saw significant social, cultural, and political change. The post-war boom brought prosperity, suburban growth, and migration. Challenges included debates over the Vietnam War, Indigenous rights, and gender equality.
4 CORNERS
On 19 August 1961, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) aired the first episode of Four Corners, a groundbreaking television current affairs program. Modelled after the BBC’s Panorama, the show aimed to provide in-depth investigative journalism ... 1/
March 13, 2025 at 6:56 AM
MY BROTHER JACK
In March 1964, Australian writer George Johnston won the prestigious Miles Franklin Award for his novel My Brother Jack, a semi-autobiographical work that remains one of Australia's most celebrated literary achievements. ... 1/
March 12, 2025 at 7:37 AM
JOURNEY OUT OF DARKNESS
A 1967 Australian film that explores themes of race relations, justice, and survival in the Australian outback during the 19th century. The story follows a white police officer and his Indigenous tracker as they pursue an Aboriginal fugitive accused of murder.
March 11, 2025 at 7:38 AM
BONY
On 12 February 1964, Arthur Upfield, one of Australia's most famous crime novelists, passed away at age 73. Upfield's knowledge of the landscape and Indigenous culture became a defining feature of his writing, particularly in his popular Detective Inspector Napoleon ‘Bony’ Bonaparte series.
March 10, 2025 at 7:21 AM
SADIE
On 27 November 1967, Johnny Farnham, released his debut single, Sadie (The Cleaning Lady). The song quickly became a massive hit in Australia, reaching Number 1 on the charts and launching Farnham’s career as a pop star. Sadie became the highest-selling Australian single of 1968.
March 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
FLIGHT 149 CRASH
On 22 September 1966, Ansett-ANA Flight 149 crashed near Winton, Queensland, killing all 24 people on board. The Vickers Viscount aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Mount Isa to Longreach, with a planned stop in Winton ... 1/
March 8, 2025 at 9:16 AM
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
The panel show Beauty and the Beast premiered in 1964, marking the beginning of one of the country's most enduring and distinctive television formats. The show featured a unique setup in which a male host—the "Beast"—moderated a panel of female commentators, the "Beauties".
March 7, 2025 at 9:44 AM
MINISKIRT
On 30 October 1965, English model Jean Shrimpton caused a sensation at the Victoria Derby at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne by wearing a daringly short white shift dress that ended several inches above her knees. ...1/
March 6, 2025 at 7:10 AM
GRETEL
In 1962, Australia made history by launching its first challenge for the prestigious America’s Cup, the world’s oldest international sailing competition. The Australian challenger, Gretel, was commissioned by businessman Sir Frank Packer and designed by naval architect Alan Payne ... 1/
March 5, 2025 at 8:48 AM
THE SEEKERS
In February 1965, Australian folk-pop group The Seekers made history when their single I'll Never Find Another You reached No. 1 on the UK charts. The song, written by Tom Springfield, was a breakthrough moment for Australian music on the global stage ... 1/
March 4, 2025 at 8:50 AM
BATTLE OF THE SOUNDS
On 17 July 1966 Australian rock band The Twilights won the grand final of the inaugural national Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds at Melbourne’s Festival Hall. The competition, sponsored by confectionary company Hoadley’s, was designed to discover & promote rising Australian bands
March 3, 2025 at 7:41 AM
OZ
On 23 September 1964, the publishers of Oz magazine—Richard Neville, Richard Walsh, Martin Sharp, and Alfred James—were convicted of printing an obscene publication. The Oz publishers launched an appeal, which was ultimately successful and, on 11 February 1966, their convictions were overturned.
March 2, 2025 at 7:54 AM
DON DUNSTAN
On 1 June 1967, Don Dunstan became the Premier of South Australia. Dunstan’s rise to the leadership marked the beginning of a transformative era in politics, as he would go on to implement some of the most progressive social and political reforms in the state’s history.
March 1, 2025 at 7:40 AM
RALPH DOUBELL
On 15 October 1968, Australian middle-distance runner Ralph Doubell made history at the Mexico City Summer Olympics by winning gold in the men’s 800 metres. In a stunning performance, Doubell clocked 1:44.3, equalling the world record set by New Zealand’s Peter Snell in 1962
February 28, 2025 at 8:19 AM
ASKIN BECOMES PREMIER
On 13 May 1965, Robert Askin was sworn in as the Premier of New South Wales, marking the beginning of a transformative era in the state’s politics. As the leader of the Liberal Party, Askin led a coalition with the Country Party to victory, ending 24 years of Labor rule.
February 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
NASHOS
On 19 April 1966, the first group of Australian National Service conscripts departed from RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney, bound for the escalating Vietnam War. These young men, drawn into military service through Australia’s controversial National Service Scheme ... 1/
February 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
“IT'S SHAPELY, IT WIGGLES …”
On 13 November 1969, former Minister for Air Dudley Erwin made headlines when he publicly blamed Prime Minister John Gorton’s young private secretary, Ainsley Gotto, for his removal from the ministry. ... 1/
February 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
SIX O’CLOCK SWILL
In 1966, Victoria made 2 significant changes to laws that had a lasting impact: the extension of hotel trading hours from 6pm to 10pm & the introduction of a legal blood alcohol limit for drivers. The decision to extend drinking hours marked the end of the ‘Six O'Clock Swill’.
February 24, 2025 at 7:32 AM
LAST MAN HANGED IN WA
On 26 October 1964, notorious Perth serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke was executed at Fremantle Prison, becoming the last person to be hanged in Western Australia. Cooke, who had terrorised Perth throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, was convicted of multiple murders.
February 23, 2025 at 8:55 AM
EARLE PAGE
Earle Page was one of Australia’s longest-serving politicians, winning 17 successive elections. Page’s political career came to a sudden end in the 1961 federal election. Aged 81, he was in poor health and hospitalised, dying just 9 days after the election, not knowing he'd lost his seat.
February 22, 2025 at 7:11 AM
FREEDOM RIDE
On 20 February 1965 the Freedom Ride, a civil rights protest led by university students, reached Moree NSW, where they confronted racial segregation at the local municipal swimming baths. Among the protesters was Charles Perkins an Aboriginal activist and student leader from Sydney Uni.
February 21, 2025 at 8:26 AM
CITY OF LIGHT
On 20 February 1962, the city of Perth earned the nickname ‘City of Light’ when its residents switched on thousands of external lights to greet American astronaut John Glenn as he orbited the Earth in his spacecraft, Friendship 7. Glenn was the first American to orbit the planet.
February 20, 2025 at 6:34 AM
LOTTERY KIDNAP
Graeme Thorne was abducted on 7 July 1960 while walking to meet his school transport in the Sydney suburb of Bondi. His family had recently won £100,000 in the Opera House Lottery. Soon after Graeme's disappearance, his mother received a ransom demand for £25,000 but despite ...1/
February 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
BLUEBIRD
On 17 July 1964, British speed pioneer Donald Campbell set a new land speed record of 429 miles per hour (690 km/h) in his jet-powered car, Bluebird CN7, on the dry salt flats of Lake Eyre, South Australia.
February 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
SKIPPY
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo was an Australian TV series that aired from February 1968 to May 1970, becoming one of the country's most iconic shows. The series followed the adventures of Sonny Hammond and his highly intelligent kangaroo, Skippy, who lived in the fictional Waratah National Park.
February 17, 2025 at 8:56 AM