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See also: 1955 in Australia, other events of 1956, 1957 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Queen Elizabeth II
• Governor-General – Sir William Slim
• Prime Minister – Robert Menzies

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

Aerial view of Nangiloc, Iraak and Colignan during the 1956 Murray River flood

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

Arts and literature

• William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize for his portrait of Albert Namatjira

Television

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

Sport

• September 8 - 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

• January 8 — Mel Gibson, actor
• February 6 — Ken Lorraway, triple jumper (d. 2007)
• March 7 — David Koch, television personality
• March 9 — Steve Vizard, actor
• April 28 — Jimmy Barnes, singer
• May 9 — Jana Wendt, journalist
• July 15 — Steve Mortimer, rugby league footballer
• July 31 — Ernie Dingo, actor
• August 17 — John Kosmina, soccer player and manager
• September 17 — Ross Glendinning, Australian Rules footballer
• September 17 — Mandawuy Yunupingu, musician and community leader
• October 16 — Martin Sacks, actor
• November 7 — Michael Wooldridge, politician
• November 14 — John Anderson, politician
• November 23 — Shane Gould, swimmer

Full date unknown

• Jane Aagaard, politician

Deaths

• March 21 - Fanny Durack, (b. 1889), swimmer
• May 29 - Frank Beaurepaire, (b. 1891), swimmer and politician
• July 12 - John Hayes, (b. 1868), Premier of Tasmania