1971-1980

The dismissal, a royal visit and a centenary milestone.

The Australian Labour Party ends 23 years in opposition with its “It’s Time’ Campaign but is dismissed by Governor General John Kerr. The Queen officially opens the Sydney Opera House, Royal South Street celebrates one hundred years since the founding of the Society in 1879 and Mad Max opens nationally.

1971

New Schools Instrumental and Electronic Organ sections are introduced to the competitions.

1972

The Sun Aria increases the age limit for competitors to 32 years.

1973

Sovereign Hill sponsors a $500 prize for an Old Time Concert Party with contestants to provide “Continuous entertainment of Old Time Music, Dancing, Comedy, Minstrels, Melodrama, Novelty, Quartettes, Magic, Juggling, and anything suitable for Music Hall Entertainment.”

Percey Winter, aged 73 years, who competed in South Street in 1935, rides his bicycle 150 miles to make a farewell appearance in the Speech Section. He gave his own composition titled – “Keep the South Street billy boiling.”
The Sydney Opera House opens and a Violin Section is introduced into the competitions.

1974

Deputy Premier, Lindsay Thompson attends a special dinner to celebrate the Sun Aria’s 50^th anniversary, while The Most Graceful Physical Culture Girl Contest also celebrates half a century of competition.

Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin on Christmas Eve.

1975

Rex Taylor wins the Herald Sun Aria competition.

The first opening concert for the Competitions is launched with a Music Hall theme. Audiences are invited to wear period costume and Sir Arthur Nicholson, Mayor of Ballarat, and his wife arrive by horse drawn coach.

1976

South Street receives a record number of entries with 1646 calisthenics teams and 72 Graceful Girls.

An invitation is extended to a special supper party to celebrate foundation president of the Victorian Calisthenics Assocation Vera Hopton, who both competed in South Street and coached many young hopefuls.

1977

A Barber Shop Quartet Section is added to the Music Hall Competition.

1978

The Courier and 3BA sponsor the Open Classical Ballet Solo with a first prize of $100 and planning gets under way to celebrate the centenary of the founding of South Street in 1879.

1979

The Governor of Victoria, Sir Henry Winneke, opens the competitions and attends a celebratory centenary dinner at Craig’s Hotel.

Also in attendance is Miss Elsie Berry, a winner for Speech and Drama in 1903 who formally donates her gold medal to the Sovereign Hill Paul and Jessica Simon Gold Museum.

The Ballarat Courier and 3BA donate inscribed silver trays to winners as a special Centenary Gift, and Ballarat City Council donates a Centenary perpetual trophy for the School Music Section, which is won by the Ballarat and Clarendon College Orchestral Band.

A Souvenir history of South Street, The First One Hundred Years, is published and written by Mr E T Lewis.

1980

Ellinor Morcom, accompanist, teacher and mentor to many Royal South Street singers, is awarded an OBE.