1969

By ET rep
  • rail way desaster :( R.I.P

    The Violet Town railway disaster: the passenger train Southern Aurora collides head-on with a freight train on the new Melbourne to Sydney train line. Nine people are killed.
  • TASMANIAN ELECTION

    The 1969 Tasmanian election is held, resulting in a hung parliament with the ALP and Liberals winning 17 seats each
  • the age newspaper

    The Age newspaper in Melbourne begins the process of moving from Collins Street to Spencer Street. The move is completed on 6 October.
  • colliesion

    Melbourne-Evans collision – The Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne collides with the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in the South China Sea
  • poseidon bubble

    The Poseidon bubble begins when the small mining company Poseidon NL discovers a large nickel deposit in Laverton, Western Australia
  • federal election

    A federal election is held. The incumbent Coalition government led by John Gorton defeats the Australian Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam
  • indian pacific railway

    The rebuilding of the Indian Pacific rail line between Sydney and Perth to standard gauge is completed.
  • war ends

    Prime Minister John Gorton announces that a withdrawal of Australian Army troops from the Vietnam War would begin in 1970.