1946 in Australia

none September 2026 February 2012 George VI Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester Ben Chifley 7,465,157 Federal, TAS The following lists events that happened during 1946 in Australia. 1946 Incumbents thumb|upright|140px|Ben Chifley Monarch – George VI Governor-General – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester Prime Minister – Ben Chifley Chief Justice – Sir John Latham State Premiers Premier of New South Wales – William McKell Premier of Queensland – Frank Cooper (until 7 March), then Ned Hanlon Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove Premier of Victoria – John Cain Premier of Western Australia – Frank Wise State Governors Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott (from 1 August) Governor of Queensland – Sir Leslie Orme Wilson (until 23 April), then Sir John Lavarack (from 1 October) Governor of South Australia – Sir Charles Norrie Governor of Tasmania – Sir Hugh Binney Governor of Victoria – Sir Winston Dugan Governor of Western Australia – none appointed Events 26 January – Foundation Day is renamed Australia Day. 18 February – The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Norman Gilroy, becomes Cardinal Gilroy, the first Australian born member of the College of Cardinals 10 March – An Australian National Airways DC-3 aircraft crashes near Hobart, killing 25 people. 1 May – At least 800 Aboriginal pastoral workers walk off the job in Northwest Western Australia, starting one of the longest industrial strikes in Australia. 6 June – The ABC makes the first national broadcast of a federal parliamentary debate. 19 July – Orange, New South Wales is proclaimed a city. 30 August – Lismore, New South Wales is proclaimed a city. 9 September – Trans Australia Airlines makes its first flight. 28 September – A federal election is held. The Australian Labor Party and Prime Minister Ben Chifley are returned to power. A three-question referendum is also held: the question on Social Services is carried; questions on Marketing and Industrial Employment are not. 23 November – A general election is held in Tasmania. The Labor Party led by Robert Cosgrove is returned to power with a reduced majority. 13 December – The United Nations grants Australia trusteeship of Territory of New Guinea and Territory of Papua. Science and technology 7 August – Overseas Telecommunications Commission established by an Act of Parliament in August 1946. It inherited facilities and resources from AWA and Cable & Wireless, and was charged with responsibility for all international telecommunications services into, through and out of Australia. Arts and literature 1946 in Australian literature William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of L. C. Robson Film The Overlanders is released, starring Chips Rafferty Politics establishment of the Western Australian Women’s Parliament Sport 14 September – Balmain win the 1946 NSWRFL season, defeating St. George 13–12 in the grand final. South Sydney, after not winning a game all season, finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon for the second year in a row. Morna takes line honours and Christina wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Russia wins the Melbourne Cup New Zealand defeats Australia 2–0 in a Rugby union test Births 8 February – Bob Collins, politician (died 2007) 24 February – Bob Pearce, politician 3 March – Tim Fischer, politician (died 2019) 4 April – Colin Coates, ice speed skater 10 April – Anne Boyd, composer 17 April – Kerry O'Brien, middle-distance runner (died 2025) 23 May – David Graham, golfer 3 June – Tristan Rogers, Australian-American actor (died 2025) 9 July – Bon Scott, singer (died 1980) 1 August – Fiona Stanley, epidemiologist 15 August – Victor Salvemini, Paralympic athlete (died 2020) 1 September – Barry Gibb, musician-songwriter (Bee Gees) 16 September – Mike Reynolds, Qld Parliament Speaker 18 October – Penelope Wensley, Governor of Queensland (2008–2014) 28 October – John Hewson, politician 30 October – Doug Parkinson, singer (died 2021) 2 November – Alan Jones, racing driver 20 December – John Bertrand, yachtsman Deaths 2 January – Joe Darling, cricketer (b. 1870) 12 February – Sir David Gordon, South Australian politician (b. 1865 - d. 1946)https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/gordon-sir-david-john-6427 Australian Dictionary of Biography Gordon, Sir David John (1865–1946) Rob Van Den Hoorn 1983 Bede Nairn Geoff Serle 9 Melbourne University Press 3 January 2022 20 March – Ethel Richardson, author (died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1870) 27 March – Sir Robert Best, Victorian politician and lawyer (b. 1856) 13 September – William Watt, 24th Premier of Victoria (b. 1871) See also List of Australian films of the 1940s References 1946 in yes Australia Category:Years of the 20th century in Australia