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 28 February – The federal voting age is lowered from 21 to 18. 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 8 March – Whiskey Au Go Go fire 1 June – The first General Dynamics F-111 aircraft is delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force 9 June – Disappearance of Jason Shannon 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 9 October - The fifty-dollar note was introduced 20 October – Sydney Opera House officially opened by Elizabeth II 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 21 September – The Jackson Pollock painting Blue Poles is controversially purchased by the Whitlam government for US$2 million (A$1.3 million). "No award" was made for the Miles Franklin Award

Film Alvin Purple

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

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

References