The advent of television greatly impacted on the existing mediums of entertainment. People were deterred by the television to stay home and watch popular programs instead of going to the cinema. Cinemas were determined to seek new ways to bring back its former popularity, and developed innovative and improved special features to the big screen. This came in the form of Technicolor, Cinemascope, Vista Vision, Cinerama, wide screens, stereo sound and3-D film which was especially suited to the big budget epic adventure, fantasy and science fiction films which had become extremely popular. Teen films were given birth to, giving the rock 'n' roll genre a helping hand by using its theme music. Drive-in cinema became a popular way to watch movies with young families, with 24 outlets established across Australia by 1958. Walt Disney Studios also saw success with their hit animated film including 'Peter Pan' and 'Sleeping Beauty'. They also produced their five live action contemporary comedy; 'The Shaggy Dog' in 1959. Radio was the most popular form of entertainment before television, and had to change its focus toward music, sports and news when television was seen as the better medium to broadcast quiz shows and dramas. Radio stations were forced to alter their programming around television. The development of the portable radio that could be carried around or installed into a car allowed this medium to survive.

Music in the 1950s was characterized by the development of a new technology and a new genre. In early 1950s music became even more convenient and enjoyable for people to enjoy. The release of the vinyl LP (long playing) records in Australia made it possible for people to play continuous music for a longer duration than they previously could. This advancement in technology fueled the explosive sensation that ripped through Australia when Rock 'n' roll hit its shores in 1955 with the release of Bill Haley's hit song 'Rock Around the Clock'. This new genre was a fusion of black American rhythm and blues music with the white-dominated and western genre creating a fast, rhythmic and exiting type of music that was adored by its young fans. During the 1940s, famous musicians such as Frank Sinatra attracted many fans, but they were young adults. Elvis Presley, known by the world now as the king of rock 'n' roll brought his very only original style of music and tapped into the young teen market by giving them they vitality they were seeking for in rock 'n' roll during the 1950s.

The genre of rock and rock reflected the optimism following World War 2, which is the reason for its popularity. The music quickly integrated itself into the Australian culture, being played at dance halls for young Australians who wear dressed in the latest rock 'n' roll fashions to dance new-found rock 'n' roll dances such as the "jitterbug" and the "boogie-woogie" and on the radio and the television. Much of this music was then incorporated into films and advertisements. By the end of the decade, all forms of entertainment had been influenced by the rock 'n' roll genre and the Australian culture had surrendered itself to the new sensation. Australian rock 'n' roll artists also participated in the rock 'n' roll movement with artists such as Johnny O'Keefe and Col Joye achieving success within the Australian music charts. Behind the rock 'n' roll phenomenon, the music genres of bebop and jazz were also popular to a lesser degree. New musicales also emerged within this decade. SportSport in Australia during the 1950's experienced breakthroughs in terms of technology and opportunity. The advent of the television came just in time for the Melbourne Olympic Games in November 1956 allowed the general public to watch sporting performances live from their television sets. Australia's rapid recovery after World War 2 played a major role in Melbourne's successful Olympic bid to host the first Olympic games in the southern hemisphere. However this opportunity was jeopardized by global events resulting from the ongoing Cold War, including Russia's invasion of Hungary, which prompted speculation on whether the games were going to proceed. The game did proceed, although tensions between Russia and Hungary amounted to a violent water polo match in the semi finals where Hungary was victorious. Despite the tensions and the controversy before the games, the event was considered a great success for Australia which had demonstrated its sporting dominance particularly in the swimming events and its capabilities to host an international event. Sports people such as Dawn Fraser, Murray Rose and Betty Cuthbert brought pride to the Australians who were watching them from the stadiums or home. The Olympic Games created a strong sense of national pride and was another stepping stone towards the formation of Australia's national identity, as the citizens no longer viewed Australia as a British outpost, but as an individual nation with sporting heroes.

Apart from the Olympics, Australia experienced sporting success in many other areas, making the 1950s a stand-out decade for sport. Australia demonstrated their dominance in tennis and cricket on the world stage, while embracing the soccer and football sensation that swept the nation with the influx of immigrants. The growing wealth of common citizens spurred on the constructions of many sporting facilities, with massive attendances. Soccer was a foreign sport, as the local community sometimes viewed with hostility because of the mentality of the time that immigrants were expected to assimilate with the Australian culture instead of creating their own social groups. Sport allowed Australia to play out its national values such as 'mateship' and 'egalitarianism'.

Over the period of this decade, Australian society has continually evolved through a combination of British and especially American influences playing a major role in shaping the culture of Australia, paving the way for further refinement of the idea of Australian identity and its unique lifestyle for years to come. Before WWII, Australian society and culture were largely dictated by British culture however, WWII initiated our relationship with another cultural powerhouse, America - which first exposed us to American culture. After WWII followed a period of peace, which allowed for the development of what has come to be known as 'popular culture'. Advances in technology made one-way communication on a worldwide scale a reality, and therefore opened up a gate through which influences on popular culture from other countries, such as America and Britain could travel. During the 1950's and, popular culture appealed to the younger generations, and in response to being targeted by this new way of living, the 'teenager' emerged as a defined social group. Popular culture encompassed all areas of recreational life.

There were many changes in musical interests and tastes, with Rock 'n' roll sweeping onto Australian shores from America in 1955. causing a sensation amongst teenagers, some of whom their lives were encompassed by everything Rock 'n' roll, imitating the fashions and the hairstyles of their idols, leading them to be labelled 'greasers' (in reference to their slick, greased hair). Popular artists such as Elvis Presley and Bill Haley and the comets were among the top entertainers influencing Australia's impressionistic youth.

Major advances in technology allowed for the advents of film and television to be brought to the masses, most of which were imported from Britain or America; it has been estimated that in 1952, almost 75 percent of the films screened in Australian cinemas were American, while 18 percent were British. In conjunction with the Rock 'n' Roll movement, the movie industry also courted the teenage audience, producing movies specially targeted for that audience such as A Rebel Without a Cause and the Wild One, Popular American movie stars including Marilyn Monroe and James Dean became icons in Australia and their style and attitude were readily copied by AustraliansSport was an integral part of Australian life in the 1950s and still is today. Most of our popular sports were imported from Britain before the turn of the decade, and retained its popularity throughout the decade . Therefore, sport was an aspect of Australian popular culture that's least directly affected by America. Rugby continued to be played instead of gridiron, and baseball never replaced cricket. Nevertheless, it still managed to indirectly change Australian sport by changing our perspective of sport being from being an amateur locally-based pastime to a professional, highly lucrative industry.

As shown above, the 1950s was the decade that introduced popular culture to Australia. Through the means of music, television and film, American pop culture has significantly influenced fashion and lifestyle factors of this decade. However, many aspects of Australian life such as sport were not as greatly as affected by American influences, instead choosing to keep its British tastes.

Similarly, almost all content screened on Australian television was sourced from overseas, with 83% being American, with the rest from Britain. These included shows like Perry Mason, The Flintstones and I Love Lucy. The popularity of American programming meant that Australians began to slowly begin to identify with American culture and lifestyles and therefore, began to become more accepting to newly introduced American concepts such as shopping malls and fast food restaurants.

The period of 1950-1960 for the Australian people was one of vast change. Throughout the prosperous post-war years, however, a new Australian identity emerged and Australians were thought to be part of a more laidback culture that enjoyed the 'good life' -The post-war generation believed they could achieve and enjoy prosperity unknown to earlier generations. The hardships of depression and war were in the past. By the turn of the decade, unemployment remained at a record low of below 2%, and the standard of living for a majority of Australians improved significantly. This unparalleled period of prosperity was also shown by a significant increase in the birth-rate, the new generation dubbed as 'baby boomers', showing that their increased income allowed them to support larger, sprawling families, as well as showing that the traditional values of family were still strong in the mentality of the post-war generation.

This vast increase in population, combined with economic prosperity led to a rapid housing boom across the whole nation. The great Australian dream of owning a house, on a quarter acre block, was becoming a reality for many Australians. This dream of a 'quarter acre block' is another example of strong conservative priorities that many post-war generation Australians believed in. Another change in the Australian identity this decade was the introduction of the idea of consumerism; that having more household products bring you happiness. Looking to enjoy life, the post-war generation Australians at that time embraced the idea of consumerism, and was reflected by the booming sales of household products, such as Laminex benches, electric mixers and refrigerators, radiographs etc. This reinforced the nature of the new Australian identity, of a culture that enjoyed the 'good life'However mainstream Australian society in the 1950s was conformist and conservative. Not surprisingly after the experience of war, family life, and family values were all important. Change was slow and anything that challenged the good life or the accepted values of society was viewed with mistrust. It was also a time when people in authority were never questioned, and people believed that they knew what was best for the community .Nevertheless the introduction of popular culture saw the uprising of a new generation whom were more rebellious towards authority, and strived to be different from their elders. The children or Baby Boomers, growing up in the 1950s sowed the seeds of the great changes that characterised the 1960s. The Baby Boomers had not experienced the hardships of depression and war, which had made their parents' generation so cautious.