1992 flashback: what was setting Melbourne on fire 32 years ago

The world was introduced to Strictly Ballroom, Sylvania Waters became a cultural phenomenon, and Charles and Diana split in what the Queen described as her “annus horribilis”. How well do you remember the highs and lows of 1992?

Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice in 1992 film Strictly Ballroom.

In 1992, the rollerblading craze was booming, Frente’s kooky Accidently Kelly St filled the airwaves, and reality TV show Sylvania Waters became a cultural phenomenon.

Baz Luhrmann‘s film Strictly Ballroom became a worldwide hit and the highest-grossing film in Australia that year, and launched the career of Sonia Kruger who made her acting debut as Tina Sparkle.

Fly-on-the-wall TV show Sylvania Waters laid bare the private lives of Noeline Baker and partner Laurie Donaher and paved the way for Australia’s love affair with reality television.

Paper cash began being phased out in 1992 and replaced with polymer bank notes, Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Premier Joan Kirner was ejected from office and replaced by Jeff Kennett.

A 23-year-old Queenslander named James Scott survived for 43 days in the Himalayas by eating snow and a few squares of chocolate.

World boxing champion Mike Tyson was jailed for rape, and race riots erupted in LA after not guilty verdicts for four white police officers who battered black motorist Rodney King.

Olivia Newton-John and Grease co-star John Travolta in 1992, the year she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Picture: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images.

The front page of the Herald Sun on December 10, 1992, after the separation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

And after a year of royal scandals, the Queen declared 1992 her “annus horribilis” following the separation of Charles and Diana, Prince Andrew also split from wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Anne got divorced (then remarried), and a fire extensively damaged Windsor Castle.

Brightly coloured and patterned tights were all the rage in 1992.

What we were wearing

Colour-changing Hypercolor clothes were still hot sellers after taking the world by storm the year prior.

Grunge music’s growing popularity inspired its own low-key fashions, including ripped jeans, checked flannelette shirts, Doc Martens boots and long, unkempt hair for boys.

A popular look in 1992: Levi 501 jeans, belt, suit jacket with shoulder pads, collared shirt, headband and briefcase-style bag.

Craig Martin, 14, modelled kids’ skater fashion in 1992 including a Stussy cap and T-shirt, Maui shorts, Nike socks and Nike Air Team Challenge sneakers.

Also popular in ‘92 were Madonna-style bustiers, jewel-encrusted hot pants, brightly coloured and patterned tights, jeans worn with blazers, and 1960s-influenced fashions.

And 1992 was also the year of the supermodel, with Elle MacPherson, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford becoming household names around the world.

1992 bridal fashions

The relatively new craze of rollerblading boomed in 1992.

Songs you couldn’t get out of your head

Billy Ray Cyrus’s Achy Breaky Heart was the year’s biggest hit in Australia.

Other memorable ‘92 hits include Guns N’ Roses’ November Rain, Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You and Boyz II Men’s End of the Road.

Gold Logie winner Jana Wendt, host of TV show A Current Affair in 1992.

TV Week Gold Logie winner

Jana Wendt – A Current Affair

TV shows we were watching

Home And Away

Neighbours

Burke’s Backyard

Warwick Capper and wife Joanne with Don Burke on TV show Burke’s Backyard.

Healthy, Wealthy And Wise

Hey Hey It’s Saturday

Sylvania Waters

A Country Practice

Hinch

Acropolis Now

Baywatch

Actors Pamela Anderson and David Charvet from TV show Baywatch in 1992.

The cast of TV show Cheers.

Cheers

Roseanne

Married With Children

Sale Of The Century

Family Feud

Wheel of Fortune

Supermarket Sweep

Sonia Kruger as Tina Sparkle in Strictly Ballroom.

Actor Russell Crowe with Jacqueline McKenzie in 1992 Australian film Romper Stomper.

Hit films

Strictly Ballroom

Basic Instinct

Hook

Point Break

Wayne’s World

Romper Stomper

White Men Can’t Jump

Lethal Weapon 3

Sister Act

Home Alone 2

JFK

Batman Returns

Cameron Daddo at the Logies in 1992. Picture: Instagram

Actor Georgie Parker at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1992.

Stars we loved

Steve Vizard, Magda Szubanski, Molly Meldrum, Paul Mercurio, Cameron Daddo, Georgie Parker, Don Burke, Nicole Kidman, Mel Gibson, Keanu Reeves, Julia Roberts, Kevin Costner, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Bruce Willis.

John Worsfold captained the West Coast Eagles to victory over Geelong in the 1992 AFL Grand Final.

It was the first time the premiership had been won by an interstate team. Picture: Craig Borrow

AFL champs

Premiers: West Coast Eagles

Brownlow Medal winner: Scott Wynd (Footscray)

Norm Smith Medal winner: Peter Matera (West Coast)

Other Aussie sporting heroes

Gary Ablett Sr, Tony Lockett, Robert Harvey, Gavin Wanganeen, Paul Roos, Shane Warne, Allan Border, David Boon, Matthew Hayden, The Woodies (Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge), Kathy Watt, Kieren Perkins, Hayley Lewis, Gary Neiwand.

Villains

Ashley Coulston: The triple killer was given three consecutive sentences of life imprisonment after he hogtied three victims and shot them execution-style in the back of the head in a house in Burwood in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Alan Bond: The failed businessman was jailed for dishonest dealing, but then freed on appeal and acquitted.

Christopher Skase: The fallen tycoon continued living the high life in Spain, claiming he could not return to Australia to face criminal charges because of a lung condition.

Top nightclubs

The Metro, Chevron, Chasers, Billboard, The Ivy, Checkpoint Charlie.

Jeff and Felicity Kennett with their great dane, Elle – named after supermodel Elle MacPherson because both have long legs – the year he became premier.

Joan Kirner at the Royal Melbourne Show, where Spot On, Joan T-shirts were for sale in 1992, the year she was ousted as premier.

Politicians

Who was PM? Paul Keating

Victorian premier: Joan Kirner, then Jeff Kennett

World leaders: George Bush, John Major, Boris Yeltsin

Australian of the Year

Mandawuy Yunupingu, lead singer of Yothu Yindi

Prime Minister Paul Keating was dubbed the ‘Lizard of Oz’ after he broke protocol by putting his hand on the Queen’s back as he introduced her to businesswoman Janet Holmes a' Court, in Canberra in 1992.

Big events

Prime Minister Paul Keating sparked uproar when he placed his hand on the Queen’s back during her visit to Australia, and a British tabloid dubbed him the “Lizard of Oz”.

The High Court’s Mabo decision recognised native title and overturned the concept of terra nullius – that Australia was unoccupied when the Brits arrived.

The world’s first text message – “Merry Christmas” – was sent on December 3, 1992, though it was another two years before Aussies began receiving SMS messages.