1871 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1871 in Australia. == Incumbents == === Governors === Governors of the Australian colonies: Governor of New South Wales – Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore Governor of Queensland – George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby Governor of South Australia – Sir James Fergusson Governor of Tasmania – Charles Du Cane Governor of Victoria – John Manners-Sutton, 3rd Viscount Canterbury Governor of Western Australia – The Hon. Sir Frederick Weld GCMG. === Premiers === Premiers of the Australian colonies: Premier of New South Wales – Sir James Martin Premier of Queensland – Arthur Hunter Palmer Premier of South Australia – John Hart until 10 November, then Arthur Blyth Premier of Tasmania – James Milne Wilson Premier of Victoria – Sir James McCulloch until 19 June, then Charles Gavan Duffy == Events == 15 March – Australia's first synagogue opens in Adelaide, South Australia. 5 May – The Prince Alfred Hospital opens in Melbourne. 19 June – Charles Gavan Duffy assumes office as Premier of Victoria. 24 September – Mother Mary MacKillop is excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church after refusing to disband the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart order. 20 November – Initial operation of the Java telegraph cable, landed at Darwin, linking Australia to the UK. == Exploration and settlement == March – Explorer John Ross is the first European to explore and name the Todd River. == Sport == The South Australian Cricket Association is founded. 7 November – The Pearl wins the Melbourne Cup == Births == 10 January – Miles Evergood (died 1939), artist 24 January – Oscar Asche (died 1936), actor and director 17 February – Florence Anderson, (died 1939) first female trade union secretary in Victoria 22 February – Hayden Starke (died 1958), High Court judge 3 April – John Wren (died 1953), businessman 20 August – Sydney Long (died 1955), artist 23 November – William Watt (died 1946), 24th Premier of Victoria == Deaths == 2 January – Sir Samuel Blackall (born 1809), Governor of Queensland 19 January – Sir William Denison (born 1804), Governor of Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales 23 April – James Frederick Palmer (born 1803), Victorian politician == References ==