to 1836 | 1837 to 1899 | 1900 to 1926 | 1927 to 1951 | 1952 to 2001 |
1952 | Queen Elizabeth II ascends to the throne United Kingdom tests atomic bomb at Monte Bello Island, off Western Australia
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1953 | Royal Style and Titles Act 1953 (Cth) Flags Act 1953 (Cth) United Kingdom tests atomic bomb at Emu Field, north-western South Australia
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1954 | First Royal Tour of Australia by reigning monarch when Queen Elizabeth II visits Australia Royal Commission on Espionage after defection of Soviet diplomats Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov Soviet Union breaks off diplomatic relations with Australia Base established at Mawson by Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE)
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1955 | Cocos (Keeling) Islands becomes Commonwealth territory
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1956 | High Court decision in Boilermakers Case replaces Court of Conciliation and Arbitration with Conciliation and Arbitration Commission British atomic tests begin on Aboriginal lands after a new site chosen at Maralinga in South Australia
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1958 | Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean transferred to Australian administration Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines founded (later FCAATSI)
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1959 | Australian population reaches nine million Australia signs Antarctic Treaty promoting international cooperation in scientific research
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1962 | Federal voting rights extended to adult Aboriginal people Indonesia annexes western New Guinea and names it Irian Jaya
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1963 | Yirrkala bark petitions 1963 (Cth)
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1964 | National Service resumes – young men selected by birthdate lottery Commonwealth grants to non-government schools introduces 'State aid'
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1965 | Australia sends troops to Vietnam to support US forces
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1966 | Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (SA) Immigration laws changed to allow entry of non-Europeans – end of the 'White Australia' policy Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies resigns after record term of sixteen years Gurindji people protest at Wattie Creek Northern Territory
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1967 | Referendum to alter Section 51.xxvi and repeal Section 127 of the Australian Constitution successful. This amendment enables the Commonwealth government to make laws for Aboriginal people and to count them in the Census Plebiscite in northern New South Wales for new State of New England defeated
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1968 | Twelve-mile fishing limit around Australia, Nauru, Papua and New Guinea established Commonwealth grants independence to Nauru Right of appeal to Privy Council from High Court ended
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1969 | Arbitration Commission handed down decision to progressively implement equal pay for women
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1970 | Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 (Vic) Moratorium Day demonstrations against Australia's participation in Vietnam War
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1971 | Aboriginal people included in the Census for the first time; Australia's population 12.8 million Senator Neville Bonner first Aboriginal member of any Australian parliament Gove Land Rights Case decided
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1972 | Withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam Gough Whitlam Prime Minister in first Labor Party Federal Government for 23 years Aboriginal people establish 'tent embassy' in Canberra
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1973 | Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth) Amendment to Nationality and Citizenship Act means Australians are no longer British subjects Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 (Cth)
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The Northern Territory's first fully elected Legislative Assembly meets Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin
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Australia grants independence to Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Government introduces Medibank, first national health insurance scheme Parliament increased from 183 to 189 so the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have two Senators and one Member each in the House of Representatives Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismisses Whitlam Government; and appoints Malcolm Fraser Prime Minister High Court rules that Federal government has sovereign rights over Australia's territorial seas and continental shelf Race Discrimination Act (Cth) Gurindji people win title to part of their traditional lands at Wattie Creek Northern Territory
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1976 | Aboriginal Land Rights Northern Territory Act 1976 (Cth) Sir Douglas Nicholls becomes first Aboriginal State Governor (South Australia)
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1977 | Referendum to replace Section 15 and alter Section 72 and Section 128 of the Australian Constitution successful on all three questions
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1978 | Acts Amendment Constitution Act 1978 (WA) Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 (Cth) Local Government Act 1978 (NT)
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1980 | Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980 (Cth) New High Court building in Canberra opened by Queen Elizabeth II
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1981 | Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (SA)
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1982 | Torres Strait Islanders, led by Eddie Mabo, seek legal recognition of ownership of their traditional lands
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1983 | High Court upholds Commonwealth authority in Franklin Dam Case Sex Discrimination Act (Cth) passed Maralinga Tjatjura Act (Cth) returns to Aboriginal people land resumed in 1953 for atomic weapons testing
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1984 | Advance Australia Fair becomes national anthem
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1985 | Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (Land Holding) Act 1985 (Qld) Aboriginal people gain title to Uluru and Kata Tjuta area; becomes national park
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1986 | All the States, and Britain, pass Australia Acts to come into operation simultaneously with Commonwealth legislation Australia Act 1986 (Cth) Mary Gaudron QC first woman appointed to the High Court
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1988 | New Commonwealth Parliament House opened by Queen Elizabeth II Celebrations held for the Bicentenary of the founding of New South Wales, the first British Colony in Australia
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1989 | Self-government established in Australian Capital Territory
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1992 | Mabo v Queensland No. 2 1992 (Cth)
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1993 | Native Title Act (Cth)passed
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Aboriginal Land Act 1995 (Tas)
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1996 | High Court determines Wik Case
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1998 | Constitutional Convention in Canberra recommends Australia become a republic Australia's population is 18.7 million
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1999 | 'No' vote wins in referendum on Australian Republic; Australia remains a constitutional monarchy
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2001 | Centenary of Federation
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to 1836 | 1837 to 1899 | 1900 to 1926 | 1927 to 1951 | 1952 to 2001 |