Australia was the host nation for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. However, due to Australian quarantine restrictions the equestrian events were held in Stockholm, Sweden. 294 competitors, 250 men and 44 women, took part in 140 events in 18 sports.
Medalists
Gold Betty Cuthbert – athletics, women's 100 metres Betty Cuthbert – athletics, women's 200 metres Shirley Strickland – athletics, women's 80 m Hurdles Norma Croker, Betty Cuthbert, Fleur Wenham, and Shirley Strickland – athletics, women's 4 × 100 m Relay Joey Browne and Anthony Marchant — Cycling, men's 2000 m Tandem Jon Henricks — Swimming, men's 100 m Freestyle Murray Rose — Swimming, men's 400 m Freestyle Murray Rose — Swimming, men's 1500 m Freestyle David Theile — Swimming, men's 100 m Backstroke John Devitt, Jon Henricks, Kevin O'Halloran, and Murray Rose — Swimming, men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay Dawn Fraser — Swimming, women's 100 m Freestyle Lorraine Crapp — Swimming, women's 400 m Freestyle Lorraine Crapp, Dawn Fraser, Faith Leech, and Sandra Morgan — Swimming, women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay
Silver Graham Gipson, Kevan Gosper, Leon Gregory, and David Lean – athletics, men's 4 × 400 m Relay Chilla Porter – athletics, men's High Jump Stuart Mackenzie – rowing, men's Single Sculls John Devitt — Swimming, men's 100 m Freestyle John Monckton — Swimming, men's 100 m Backstroke Lorraine Crapp — Swimming, women's 100 m Freestyle Dawn Fraser — Swimming, women's 400 m Freestyle John Scott and Roland Tasker — Sailing, men's Sharpie 12 m²
Bronze Hector Hogan – athletics, men's 100 metres John Landy – athletics, men's 1500 metres Allan Lawrence – athletics, men's 10.000 metres Norma Thrower – athletics, women's 80 m Hurdles Marlene Mathews – athletics, women's 100 metres Marlene Mathews – athletics, women's 200 metres Kevin Hogarth — Boxing, men's Welterweight Walter Brown and Dennis Green – canoeing, men's K2 10,000 m Kayak Pairs Dick Ploog — Cycling, men's 1000 m Sprint (Scratch) Murray Riley and Mervyn Wood – rowing, men's Double Sculls Michael Aikman, Angus Benfield, David Boykett, Bryan Doyle, Harold Hewitt, Jim Howden, Walter Howell, Garth Manton, and Adrian Monger – rowing, men's Eights Gary Chapman — Swimming, men's 100 m Freestyle Faith Leech — Swimming, women's 100 m Freestyle Douglas Buxton, Devereaux Mytton, Ernest Wagstaff and Jock Sturrock — Sailing, men's 5½ Meter Class
Athletics
Men Track & road events AthleteEventHeat QuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankTed Allsopp20 km walkcolspan=6 1:35:43.01050 km walkcolspan=6 DSQJames Bailey800 m1:51.1 1 Qcolspan=2 1:51.4 7Did not advanceJim Bailey1500 mDNSDid not advanceRon Blackney3000 m steeplechase9:16.0 10colspan=4 DNFBill Butchart800 m1:51.6 3 Qcolspan=2 1:53.8 4 Q1:52.0 8Gavin Carragher100 m11.36 4Did not advanceJohn Chittick110 m hurdles15.18 5Did not advanceRonald Crawford20 km walkcolspan=6 1:39:35.01350 km walkcolspan=6 5:22:36.013Kenneth Doubleday110 m hurdles14.98 5Did not advanceGraham Gipson200 m22.06 3Did not advance400 m47.87 2 Q47.45 4Did not advanceGeoff Goodacre400 m hurdles52.5 3Did not advanceJohn Goodman400 m48.73 4Did not advanceKevan Gosper400 m48.07 1 Q46.83 1 Q46.45 4Did not advanceHec Hogan100 m10.72 1 Q10.78 1 Q10.62 3 Q10.77200 m21.97 2 Q21.90 4Did not advanceBob Joyce110 m hurdles15.02 6Did not advanceDon Keane20 km walkDid not advance1:33:52.06Ray Land100 m11.05 2 Q11.15 6Did not advanceJohn Landy1500 m3:48.6 3 Qcolspan=4 3:42.0 5000 metresDNSDid not advanceAllan Lawrence5000 metres14:14.671 Qcolspan=4 DNS10000 metrescolspan=6 28:53.6David Lean400 m hurdles51.4 2 Qcolspan=2 51.4 2 Q51.8 5Mervyn Lincoln1500 m3:45.4 1 Qcolspan=4 3:51.9 12Donald MacMillan800 m1:53.4 4Did not advanceKeith OllerenshawMarathoncolspan=6 2:48:1225Ross Parker400 m hurdles53.5 1 Qcolspan=2 52.6 6Did not advanceLes PerryMarathoncolspan=6 DNFDavid Power10000 metrescolspan=6 29:49.67Neil Robbins3000 m steeplechase8:55.625 Qcolspan=4 8:50.367John RussellMarathoncolspan=6 2:41:4418Ray Smith50 km walkcolspan=6 4:56:08.06Dave Stephens10000 metrescolspan=6 NT20Albie Thomas5000 metres14:14.411 Qcolspan=4 14:05.035Graham Thomas3000 m steeplechase9:09.8010colspan=4 DNFDouglas Winston200 m22.20 3Did not advanceGavin CarragherEdward McGlynnRay LandHector Hogan4×100 m relay40.721 Qcolspan=2 40.724Did not advanceLeon GregoryGraham GipsonKevan GosperDavid LeanJohn Goodman4×400 m relay3:10.572 Qcolspan=4 3:06.19 Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionJames AchurchJavelin throw57.0921Did not advanceVesmonis BalodisDiscus throw44.24 20Did not advanceIan BruceLong jump6.91 23Did not advanceMartin CroweHammer throw48.43 21Did not advance Peter DentonPole vault3.8518Did not advance Barry DonathShot put16.57 4 Q16.52 9Neville GadsenHammer throw48.84 20Did not advance Bob GrantJavelin throw65.7616Did not advance Ronald GrayTriple jump14.46 25Did not advance Robert HanlinShot put15.62 11 Q16.08 11Hugh JackLong jump6.90 24Did not advance Charlie MorrisHammer throw49.35 19Did not advance Mike MoroneyLong jump7.0919Did not advanceBrian OliverTriple jump14.74 23Did not advanceBruce PeeverPole vault3.8517Did not advance Chilla PorterHigh jump1.924 Q2.10Maurice RichTriple jump14.26 27Did not advanceColin RidgwayHigh jump1.9216 Q2.007John Vernon1.82 24Did not advance Combined events – Decathlon AthleteEvent 100 m 400 m 1500 mFinalRankIan BruceResult11.76.6212.301.8351.315.936.623.4051.384:50.4602511Points678672609806751612536476554331John CannResult10.96.5712.181.7049.315.638.762.7057.894:49.2627810Points948659598656900673592226686340Pat LeaneResult11.46.7913.261.8651.016.438.863.5058.834:56.864279 Points768722696845772523595516706284
Women Track & road events AthleteEventHeat QuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankGloria Cooke80 m hurdles11.43 Qcolspan=2 11.1 3 Q11.46Betty Cuthbert100 m11.4 OR1 Qcolspan=2 12.0 2 Q11.5200 m23.51 Qcolspan=2 23.6 1 Q23.4Norma Croker200 m24.92 Qcolspan=2 24.33 Q24.04Marlene Mathews-Willard100 m11.5 1 Qcolspan=2 11.6 1 Q11.7200 m24.0 1 Qcolspan=2 24.3 2 Q23.8Shirley Strickland de la Hunty100 m11.7 3Did not advance80 m hurdles10.81 Qcolspan=2 10.81 Q10.7Norma Thrower80 m hurdles10.8 OR1 Qcolspan=2 11.02 Q11.0Norma CrokerBetty CuthbertFleur MellorShirley Strickland de la Hunty4×100 m relay44.9 WR1 Qcolspan=4 44.5 WR Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionCarole BernothHigh jump1.5814 Q1.6014Nancy BorwickLong jump5.805 Q5.828Mary BreenShot put11.2818Did not advanceJanice CooperHigh jump1.5818 Q1.5515Shirley CottonDiscus throw40.7617Did not advanceJune HeathJavelin throw38.1019Did not advanceHeather Innes38.7218Did not advanceLois JackmanDiscus throw42,2113 Q40.8413Margaret JohnsonLong jump5.5916Did not advanceValerie Dawn LawrenceShot put13.4310 Q13.1213Discus throw36.6121Did not advanceMichele MasonHigh jump1.587 Q1.676Erica WillisLong jump5.6414Did not advanceMargaret WoodlockShot put11.7017Did not advanceMaureen WrightJavelin throw38.8117Did not advance
Basketball
Men's Team Competition Preliminary round
Group D
Classification 9–15
Group 1
Classification matches
Team Roster Peter Demos Geoff Heskett Peter Bumbers Stan Dargis Inga Freidenfelds Colin Burdett George Dancis Peter Sutton Algis Ignatavicius Merv Moy Ken Finch Bruce Flick Head coach: Ken Watson
Boxing
Men AthleteEvent1 Round 2 Round QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankWarner BatchelorFlyweightW PL PDid not advance5Robert BathBantamweightW PL PDid not advanceNoel HazardFeatherweightL PDid not advanceWilliam GriffithsLightweightL PDid not advanceMax CarlosLight WelterweightL PDid not advanceKevin HogarthWelterweightW PW PL PPeter ReadLight MiddleweightL PDid not advanceHoward RichterMiddleweightL PDid not advanceAnthony MadiganLight Heavyweightcolspan=2 L PDid not advance
Canoeing
Sprint Men AthleteEventHeatsFinalTimeRankTimeRankBryan HarperC-1 1000 mcolspan=2 5:37.67C-1 10000 mcolspan=2 1:02:12.19William JonesThomas OhmanC-2 1000 m5:04.6 2 Q5:03.05C-2 10000 mcolspan=2 56:18.67Barry StuartK-1 1000 m4:30.1 3 Q4:30.79Max BaldwinK-1 10000 mcolspan=2 51:49.79Walter BrownDennis GreenK-2 1000 m4:03.0 1 Q3:59.17K-2 10000 mcolspan=2 43:43.2 Women AthleteEventHeatsFinalTimeRankTimeRankEdith CochraneK-1 500 m2:24.0 3 Q2:23.85
Cycling
Road AthleteEventTimeRankJohn O'SullivanMen's road race5:36:5841Jim Nevin5:47:0244Jim NestorDNFJack TrickeyDNFJohn O'SullivanJim NevinJim NestorJack TrickeyTeam road raceDNF
Track 1000m time trial AthleteEventTimeRankWarren ScarfeMen's 1000m time trial1:12.1 4 Sprint AthleteEventHeatsRepechage 1Repechage finals QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeSpeed (km/h)RankOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)Rank Dick PloogMen's sprintW 11.40 WRcolspan=2 W 12.4 11.6 L 12.2 W 11.6 11.4 Tandem AthleteEventHeatsRepechageQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)RankAnthony MarchantJoey BrowneTandem LL W 10.8W 10.8 W10.8 Pursuit AthleteEventQualificationQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeRankCliff BurvillFrank BrazierRoy MooreWarren Scarfe Men's team pursuitL OTDid not advance9
Diving
Men AthleteEventPreliminariesFinalPointsRankPointsRankTotalRonald Faulds3 m springboard68.84 20Did not advanceBarry Holmes10m platform58.0122Did not advanceJoseph McCann3 m springboard69.1819Did not advanceFrancis Murphy10m platform66.2917Did not advanceWilliam Tully65.49 18Did not advanceArthur Winther3 m springboard71.0417Did not advance
Women AthleteEventPreliminariesFinalPointsRankPointsRankTotalRosalyn Barton3 m springboard58.5015Did not advance10m platform41.96 15Did not advancePat Howard3 m springboard53.89 17Did not advanceBarbara McAulay60.1913Did not advance10m platform45.6714Did not advanceAdele Price35.2818Did not advance
Fencing
21 fencers, 18 men and 3 women, represented Australia in 1956. Men Ranks given are within the pool. FencerEventElimination roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankLaurence Harding-SmithMen's épée did not advanceIvan Lund did not advanceRichard Stone did not advanceBrian McCowageMen's foil did not advanceDavid McKenzie did not advanceMichael Sichel did not advanceLeslie FadgyasMen's sabre 3 Q 7 did not advance25Graham McKenzie 4 Q 7 did not advance24Sandor Szoke6 did not advance30James Wolfensohn Ivan Lund Keith Hackshall Hilbert Van Dijk Team épéeL 3-9 L 5-11 L 4 did not advance9Ray Buckingham Brian McCowage Rod Steel David McKenzie Michael Sichel Tom Cross Team foilL 3-13 L 8-8 3 did not advance8Leslie Fadgyas Alexander Martonffy Emeric Santo Leslie Kovacs Sandor Szoke Team sabreL 1-9 L 2-14 3 did not advance8
Women Ranks given are within the pool. FencerEventElimination roundSemifinalsFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankJoy HardonWomen's foil 8 did not advance23Lois Joseph 8 did not advance22Denise O'Brien 7 did not advance19
Football
First round
Quarter-finals
Men's team squads Head coach: Richard Telfer