What if Australia had always been in Eurovision? Our picks for the '50s and '60s
- Troy Turner
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Before Dami, before Guy, before even Olivia Newton-John… what if Australia had been strutting its stuff on the Eurovision stage from the very start? In this first instalment of our series, the Aussievision team dives into the ‘what ifs’ - imagining which Aussie legends might have flown the flag for the land down under in the early days.
Eurovision kicked off in 1956, and while Aussies weren’t officially invited to the glittery European songfest for another six decades, it’s not like we were short on musical talent back then. From outback rockers to beat-group charmers, we had plenty who could’ve repped the Green and Gold proudly: sequins optional… but encouraged.
Let's step back into black and white for the start of this article and see who the Aussievision team would have sent to Eurovision back in the day.
The 1950s: Rock ‘n’ Roll Meets the Red Dirt
Australia in the 1950s was buzzing and not just from all those BEX-laced cups of tea and Vincents powders… if you know, you know. The post-war years saw the country jitterbug from polite ballroom tunes to the wild new beat of rock ’n’ roll. Teenagers were suddenly swapping waltzes for hip shakes and dance halls across the nation were bursting with energy (and the greasy smell of Brylcreem).
Homegrown stars like Johnny O’Keefe, Col Joye, and the Allen Brothers were giving Elvis a run for his money, while radio DJs and early TV shows like Brian Henderson’s Bandstand helped turn pop into a national obsession. It was the decade Australia found its musical swagger: loud, lively, and just rebellious enough to make parents nervous.
Early-career Bee Gees
“The Bee Gees — emigrating to Redcliffe, Queensland as youngsters and forming the group in 1958, we’re claiming them! Admittedly in the 1950s the lads were in the infancy of their singing careers, simply busking for pocket money and doing small gigs here and there, but the age restriction rules didn’t exist at Eurovision in the 1950s, so we can send some kids out on the big stage! I like to think even as youngsters their endearing personalities and quality would shine through on the big Eurovision stage and make for a compelling performance and eventually rocket them to their inevitable fame. Imagine if they had come up with To Love Somebody at that age. It's exactly three minutes long that song, coincidentally! Hard to pick just one, they're my favourite group of all time ~ Liv
Johnny O’Keefe — The Wild One” ~Fleur
Johnny O’Keefe was Australia’s original rock ’n’ roll rebel, all slick hair, loud suits, and unstoppable energy. He burst onto the scene in the late 1950s with hits like “Wild One” Fleur has suggested, which proved that Aussies could rock just as hard as anyone in Memphis or Manchester. Australia’s first true rock star, wild suits, pompadour and all. You can practically see him shaking up that prim-and-proper 1950s Eurovision stage.
Jimmy Little -- Sweet Mama
“Jimmy Little was one of Australia’s most quietly powerful musical trailblazers. As a proud Yorta Yorta man, he brought effortless warmth to his music, blending country, pop, and gospel influences into songs that broke across racial barriers.
In the 1950s much of Australian entertainment was still defined by white radio crooners and imported hits, Jimmy was carving his own path. He performed tirelessly at community halls, radio shows, and local tours, steadily earning a reputation for his silky tone and heartfelt delivery and dropped a string of early hits in the 50s, before a breakout in 1963. My favourite of his from the 50s is Sweet Mama.” ~Troy
The 1960s: Folk, Beat, and Aussie Flair
The 1960s were when Australian exploded into technicolour. Guitars got louder, hair got longer, and suddenly the whole country was ready to twist, shout, and maybe scandalise a few parents along the way. Surf rock ruled the beaches, beat groups popped up in every garage, and Aussie acts were finally breaking into the big time overseas.
The Seekers charmed the world with their precise, pitch-perfect harmonies, The Easybeats gave us Friday on My Mind (voted the greatest Aussie song of all time), and a trio of brothers named Gibb had become young men and were busy honing their falsettos for global domination. It was a decade of energy, optimism, and unfiltered Aussie ambition. We had the sound of a nation ready to make some serious noise on the world stage.
By the ‘60s, Australia’s music scene had exploded… and so had our options for hypothetical Eurovision glory!
Saskia dives deep into the folk scene with her choice:
“The Groop, mostly because they’re the only Australian ’60s act I know well. They have a folk sound that fans of The Mamas and the Papas would enjoy. I would have loved to see ‘A Famous Myth’ or ‘Tears and Joy’ compete.” ~Saskia
The Seekers lap up lots of love, and there's so many strong reasons why:
“The Seekers — they were an Australian folk pop and gospel band originally formed in Melbourne in 1962. They had that lovely Aussie twang mixed in with instantly catchy and heartfelt songs. Quality through and through with genuine grit and emotion. Their main vocalist Judith Durham always had such a beautiful and whimsical vocal that would have mesmerised on the Eurovision stage. The band’s entire story told a great grassroots Aussie moment and then becoming big fish in the massive UK music industry. We love a good underdog story at Eurovision!” ~Liv
“The Seekers — ‘The Carnival is Over,’ The Seekers would have been a perfect fit for an Australian Eurovision act of the 1960s. They were one of the first Australian acts to have chart success in both the UK and US and spent a number of years in the 60s already based in the UK.
In an era where Eurovision was about wholesome performances, their melodic songs and strong harmonies would have had broad appeal in Europe. Their songs were polished, accessible, and carried a message of optimism: exactly the kind of tone that did well in Eurovision at the time.” ~Emma
“The Seekers — ‘Georgy Girl.’ The New Seekers went to Eurovision in 1972 and I reckon the original band could have as well. Their easy-to-listen-to pop music would have fit nicely into the slightly posh and non-rock-and-roll 1960s Eurovision scene. Them being a band would have been a slight problem with the solo or duo rule of that decade, but they could bill it as Judith as the main attraction with the boys as backing singers. ‘Georgy Girl’ is a favourite of mine that went number one in both Australia and the UK. It’s also 2 minutes and 21 seconds… perfect for Eurovision!” ~Sam
In another nod to our harmony heroes, Sam brings us home with The Seekers.
“Bee Gees — I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You, To Love Somebody, I Started a Joke — Given the Bee Gees were born in the UK and achieved most of their success there, they could actually have represented the UK at Eurovision. At a time where Eurovision was about standing at a microphone and delivering a heartfelt song, the Bee Gees’ performances were exactly that. Their strong melodies and polished orchestral arrangements had the same emotional pull of Eurovision winning songs at the time, so it’s likely they may have done very well in the contest.” ~Emma
“Johnny Farnham made an unforgettable debut in the late 1960s with Sadie the Cleaning Lady, a quirky almost novelty song that ‘swept’ the charts and introduced Australia to his irresistible charm. Beneath the cheeky lyrics was a voice full of warmth and power… that voice would later become one our country’s greatest vocalists and most loved larrikins. the Farnham is one of Australia’s most iconic performers and he would have eaten Eurovision alive if he had the chance.” ~Troy
Fleur injects some of that 60s rock vibe into her suggestions:
“The Easybeats — Friday on My Mind,’Sorry, She’s So Fine
The Loved Ones — The Loved One
Russell Morris — The Reak Thing
The Bee Gees — Spicks and Specks, To Love Somebody,’ Massachusetts, Words, I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You" ~Fleur
The Easybeats were Australia’s answer to the British Invasion — sharp suits, jangly guitars, and an unstoppable sense of swagger. With hits like “Friday on My Mind”, they captured the restless energy of 1960s youth and proved that Aussie rock could stand proudly alongside London’s best. Russell Morris brought a dose of psychedelic magic to Australian pop in the late 1960s, with his soaring hit “The Real Thing” turning him into one of the era’s most ambitious and innovative voices.
So, who do you think would’ve repped Australia?
It seems The Seekers are the runaway favourite here with their wholesome harmonies, British exposure, and a perfectly Eurovision-friendly sound. But there’s no denying that a teenage Bee Gees or a wild-eyed Johnny O’Keefe could’ve brought something truly memorable (and delightfully chaotic) to the stage.
One thing’s for sure, had Australia been competing from the start, the Eurovision archives would’ve been a whole lot more sun-soaked, harmony-driven, and occasionally wild. And we’d have loved every minute of it.
Who would be your picks from our 50s and 60s Aussie artists?
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