• May: At St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Forrest , ACT, only daughter Heather marries Peter Henderson:

"Certainly, people began gathering outside the church at noon, and by the time Heather and her father arrived for the service at 2.30, barricades had been erected and police were on duty in a scene reminiscent of many during the royal tour a year before. A crowd estimated at about 2000 watched as two Scottish pipers in Royal Stewart kilts piped the car from the entrance to the church steps, and cheered and shouted good wishes which momentarily brought tears to the bride's eyes. Hector Harrison, permanent officiating clergyman at St Andrew's, and Fred McKay, Menzies' new-found friend from Alice Springs, conducted the service. After the reception groomsmen, in somewhat hilarious mood, carried the couple shoulder high through the crowd to their car to leave for the honeymoon."
A W Martin, Robert Menzies A Life Vol 2 1944-1978, 1999 p305.

• December 10 election: Menzies Coalition government is returned. Capitalising on Labor disarray, the Coalition does well.

• The Petrov Royal Commission's report on Communism is tabled in Parliament in September.
• Troops sent to Malaya to fight against Communist insurgence.
• Australian Labor Party formally splits.
• Charles Chauvel's film Jedda premiers in Darwin. It is the first film to feature Aboriginal actors in lead roles and it is the first Australian colour film.

• Jonas Salk, American physician and epidemiologist, develops the first safe and effective vaccine against poliomyelitis which crippled or killed children and young adults.
• Warsaw Pact: USSR and East European states sign a defence treaty under Soviet command.
• British, New Zealand and Australian troops join forces in the Malayan Emergency.
• Beginning of rock and roll: Bill Haley's Rock around the Clock is popular.