At A Glance

24 March 1979 at a glance

Day of the week
24 March 1979 was a Saturday.
Kent Music Report No. 1
The Kent Music Report No. 1 was “Le Freak” by Chic.
Top Film of 1979
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1979 was Moonraker.
Best-Selling Vehicle of 1979
Australia's top-selling new vehicle in 1979 was the Holden Commodore.
Star sign
The star sign for 24 March is Aries.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 24 March 1979 fell in the Year of the Goat.
Birthstone
The birthstone for March is Aquamarine.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 24 March 1979 was Waning Crescent.

On this day: 24 March

  • 1972 Direct rule is imposed on Northern Ireland by the Government of the United Kingdom under Edward Heath.
  • 1976 In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and start a seven-year dictatorial period self-styled the National Reorganization Process.
  • 1977 Morarji Desai becomes the prime minister of India, the first prime minister not to belong to Indian National Congress.
  • 1982 Bangladeshi President Abdus Sattar is deposed in a bloodless coup led by Army Chief Lieutenant general Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who suspends the Constitution and imposes martial law.
  • 1986 The Loscoe gas explosion leads to new UK laws on landfill gas migration and gas protection on landfill sites.

Famous people born on 24 March

  • Bob Mackie, American fashion designer (1940–2026)
  • Steve McQueen, American actor and producer (1930–1980)
  • Jim Parsons, American actor (born 1973)
  • Steve Ballmer, American businessman (born 1956)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1979 in Australia

A selection from Wikipedia's '1979 in Australia'. Not a complete list.

  • 9 January – Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony signs a pact to allow uranium mining to begin at the Ranger Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory.
  • 9 February – Associated Securities Limited, Australia's fourth-largest finance company, is placed into receivership.
  • 9 March – The Arbitration Commission awards Australian women the right to six weeks' compulsory unpaid maternity leave with the option of extending the leave to one year.
More events of 1979 →Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Life in Australia in 1979

Prime Minister

Malcolm Fraser

Monarch

Queen Elizabeth II

Petrol (per litre)

$0.13

Loaf of Bread

$0.54

Average House

$40,000

Weekly Wage

$200.00

Or

Browse by Year

The 1940s
1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
The 1950s
1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
The 1960s
1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
The 1970s
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
The 1980s
1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
The 1990s
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
The 2000s
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
The 2010s
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
The 2020s
20202021202220232024

Famous Faces Born in the 1970s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Heath Ledger4 April 1979ActorView their day →Patrick Brammall30 March 1976ActorView their day →Rose Byrne24 July 1979ActressView their day →Isla Fisher3 February 1976Actress & authorView their day →Sam Worthington2 August 1976ActorView their day →Toni Collette1 November 1972Actress & musicianView their day →Joel Edgerton23 June 1974ActorView their day →Natalie Imbruglia4 February 1975Singer & actressView their day →

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →