1950s
- 1950
- June: Robert Menzies' government announces a gradual introduction of television in Australia, with plans to launch an ABC Television station in Sydney and other areas subject to funding approval. As well as this, commercial television services in Sydney and Melbourne are planned with "any other capital city where it is felt that the applicant's capacity to provide a service justifies the issue of a licence".
- 1953
- January: The Menzies government amends the 1948 Broadcasting Act to provide legislative framework for commercial television licenses.
- 1954
- The Royal Commission on television affirms the need to introduce television under a dual system of ownership, similarly to the Menzies plan.
- 1956
- 13 July: Test transmissions commence in Sydney on TCN-9 in monochome.
- 16 July: HSV-7 Melbourne commences test transmissions in monochrome.
- 16 September: TCN-9 Sydney launches at 7.00pm. Announcer John Godson is the first voice heard and Bruce Gyngell is the first person seen in-vision, introducing This is Television.
- 27 October: TCN-9 officially opens.
- 4 November: HSV-7 Melbourne officially launches.
- 5 November: The Australian Broadcasting Commission begins television broadcasting with ABN-2 Sydney.
- 19 November: Melbourne's ABV-2 launches.
- 22 November: 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne commence, televised by ABV-2 & HSV-7 and during GTV-9 test transmissions.
- 1957
- 19 January: Sir Dallas Brookes officially inaugurates GTV-9 Melbourne.
- 6 May: GTV-9 launches the nightly variety show In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy.
- 1959
- 9 January: Melbourne and Sydney are linked by microwave for the first time, allowing programs to be broadcast live to both cities concurrently.
- 16 August: QTQ-9 Brisbane begins transmission.
- 5 September: NWS-9 Adelaide officially launches.
- 16 October: TVW-7 Perth launches.
- 1 November: BTQ-7 Brisbane launches.
- 2 November: ABQ-2 Brisbane launches.
Read more about this topic: Timeline Of Australian Television