1956 in Australia

Incumbents

• Monarch – Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Sir William Slim
• Prime Minister – Robert Menzies
• Chief Justice – Sir Owen Dixon

  State Premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – Joseph Cahill
• Premier of Queensland – Vince Gair
• Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV
• Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove
• Premier of Victoria – Henry Bolte
• Premier of Western Australia – Albert Hawke

  State Governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
• Governor of Queensland – Sir John Lavarack
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Robert George
• Governor of Tasmania – Sir Ronald Cross, 1st Baronet
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Dallas Brooks
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Charles Gairdner

  Events

• August - The Murray River flooded, affecting many towns near the river.
• 22 November – The 1956 Summer Olympics opened in Melbourne. The opening ceremony was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with 107,700 people watching.

  Arts and literature

• William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Albert Namatjira
• Quadrant literary magazine is founded, edited by James McAuley

  Television

• 16 September – Australia's first TV station TCN-9 begins regular transmission in Sydney
• 4 November - HSV-7 begins as Melbourne's first TV Station.
• 5 November – The first TV station of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is launched; ABN-2 Sydney.

  Sport

• 8 September – John Russell wins his first men's national marathon title, clocking 2:26:37.8 in Melbourne.
• Melbourne Cup winner in 1956 was Evening Peal, ridden by George Podmore Trained by E.D.Lawson
• New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
• Kurrewa IV takes line honours and Solo wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
• New South Wales Rugby League premiership: St George defeated Balmain
• Victorian Football League premiership: Melbourne defeated Collingwood
• Australian Men's Tennis Championship was won by Lew Hoad from NSW aged 22
• Australian Women's Tennis Championship was won by Miss Mary Carter

  Births

• 9 January – Bill Leak, editorial cartoonist
• 20 January – Richard Morecroft, English-Australian journalist
• 29 January – Ian Davies, basketball player
• 6 February – Ken Lorraway, triple jumper
• 27 February – Andrea Mitchell, Western Australian politician and sports administrator
• 7 March – David Koch, television personality
• 9 March – Steve Vizard, actor
• 9 May – Jana Wendt, journalist
• 22 May – Peter Ali, basketball player
• 15 July – Steve Mortimer, rugby league footballer
• 21 July – Andy Campbell, basketball player
• 31 July – Ernie Dingo, actor
• 12 August – Suzanne Twelftree, Paralympic wheelchair tennis player and powerlifter
• 17 August – John Kosmina, soccer player and manager
• 17 September – Ross Glendinning, Australian Rules footballer
• 17 September – Yunupingu, musician and community leader
• 2 October ~ Peter Evans
• 16 October – Martin Sacks, actor
• 7 November
• * Michael Wooldridge, politician
• * Gordon McLeod, basketball player and assistant coach.
• 14 November – John Anderson, politician
• 23 November – Shane Gould, swimmer

  Deaths

• 21 March – Fanny Durack,, swimmer
• 29 May – Frank Beaurepaire,, swimmer and politician
• 12 July – John Hayes,, Premier of Tasmania