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Australian backstroker John Monckton, who won silver at the Melbourne Olympics and two golds at the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, has died aged 79.

Australian backstroke swimmer John Monckton, a dual Olympian who won silver at the Melbourne Games, has died aged 79.

Swimming Australia says he died at his home on the NSW north coast early on Thursday after a long illness.

Monckton was married to fellow Melbourne Olympian and butterfly swimmer Maureen Giles.

He won silver in the 100m backstroke at the 1956 Melbourne Games and represented Australia again in Rome in 1960.

Monckton also won two golds in the 110 yards backstroke and 4x110 yards medley relay at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.

Monckton was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1999 and was a member of the NSW Sporting Hall of Fame.