Learning module:
Popular culture Defining Moments, 1945–present
Investigation 2: The impact of sport on Australian popular culture
2.1 Australia wins the America’s Cup
Photo: Larry Moran
In 1983 Australia won the America’s Cup yacht race for the first and only time. It was a remarkable sporting spectacle that captured the attention of the nation.
Read the information in the Defining Moments in Australian history: 1983 Australia II wins the America’s Cup. Use that information to answer these questions.
1. What was the America’s Cup?
2. What had been Australia’s involvement before 1983?
3. What enabled Australia to win the 1983 America’s Cup?
4. How did Australians react?
5. How did Prime Minister Hawke react?
6. The race was watched by many Australians on television. What role did television play in helping to increase the reach and influence of sports such as the America’s Cup?
7. Why was this event seen as significant for Australia’s sense of national identity and worth?
8. What does this event help you understand about developments in Australian popular culture after 1945?
9. Why was this Defining Moment so significant in Australian history?
10. If you were advising the National Museum of Australia on an object that it could display to tell the story of this event, what would you suggest? (You can see what objects they actually have using the National Museum of Australia collections search)
Look back at the Key questions. Which of these questions do you think you can now answer fully? Which need more research?
