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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.
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The 1969 Tasmanian election is held, resulting in a hung parliament with the ALP and Liberals winning 17 seats each
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The Age newspaper in Melbourne begins the process of moving from Collins Street to Spencer Street. The move is completed on 6 October.
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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
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The Poseidon bubble begins when the small mining company Poseidon NL discovers a large nickel deposit in Laverton, Western Australia
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A federal election is held. The incumbent Coalition government led by John Gorton defeats the Australian Labor Party led by Gough Whitlam
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The rebuilding of the Indian Pacific rail line between Sydney and Perth to standard gauge is completed.
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Prime Minister John Gorton announces that a withdrawal of Australian Army troops from the Vietnam War would begin in 1970.