"Ask a country about the sixties and you'll get a country's worth of different versions."
Cold wars and hot tempers; long hair and short skirts; Race riots and the civil rights movement; The Peace Corps and Vietnam; The Berlin wall and the Space Race; Culture and counter culture... The early sixties were a time change – a time of finding new voices and new ways of expression. Into this world came four men, singing about a girl named Sherry.
The Beatles, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones all toured Australia. Number one singles hitting the top of the charts in Australia in the early sixties included Rolf Harris Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, Bobby Vee Rubber Ball, Elvis Presley Return To Sender, The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand, Bill Haley & His Comets Joey's Song.
The Seekers' single I'll Never Find Another You reached #1 in the UK charts. It becomes the first recording by an Australian act to sell more than 1 million copies.
Australia wins 38 gold medals at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held in Perth in 1962.
Australia dominated England at The Ashes, winning five over England's two in this period.
In 1964 Donald Campbell set a new land speed record of 429 miles per hour in his jet-propelled car at Lake Eyre, South Australia.
The novel Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence was banned from sale – the police even began raiding book shops.
The construction of the Sydney Opera House was well underway, after young Danish architect Jørn Utzon's radical proposal was rescued from the reject pile.
In 1964 the first edition of The Australian was published in Canberra - Australia's first national daily newspaper.
Indigenous voting rights were extended across into Western Australia, Queensland and the Northen territory.
Australian was enjoying unprecedented prosperity, and living in the most urbanized nation in the world, with 75% of the population in the cities. For first time the number of white-collar workers exceeded the number of blue-collar workers.
Chevrolet celebrates its Golden anniversary,
its 50th year.
Marine Corps General John Glenn circles the earth
3 times in the Friendship 7.
90% of Americans own a television set;
ABC begins broadcasting in color.
Two new dances, the Mashed Potato and
the Watusi hit the scene.
Polaroid introduces colour film prints
which develop in 60 seconds.
Folk and California surf music, led by Dylan
and the Beach Boys respectively,
become cultural phenomenons.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy gives 'A Tour of the White House' via television. Over 46 million people tune in.
The first K-Mart and Wal-mart open.
JFK announces US will resume above
ground nuclear testing.
By a vote of 6 to 1, the Supreme Court
bans prayer in public schools.