1897 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1897 in Australia. == Incumbents == === Premiers === Premier of New South Wales - George Reid Premier of South Australia - Charles Kingston Premier of Queensland - Hugh Nelson Premier of Tasmania - Edward Braddon Premier of Western Australia - John Forrest Premier of Victoria - George Turner === Governors === Governor of New South Wales – Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden Governor of Queensland – Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington Governor of South Australia – Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet Governor of Tasmania – Jenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston Governor of Victoria – Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey Governor of Western Australia – Gerard Smith == Events == 7 January - Darwin has its highest ever daily rainfall with 296.1 millimetres from its most severe cyclone until Tracy. 22 June - The second Victoria Bridge is opened in Brisbane by the Governor of Queensland, Lord Lamington. The previous bridge was destroyed by floodwaters 2 October - The first issue of the radical paper Tocsin is published. 27 October - St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne is consecrated == Arts and literature == Walter Withers wins the inaugural Wynne Prize for landscape painting or figure sculpture for his landscape The Storm Queensland Braille Writing Association was formed in Brisbane - later became Braille House == Sport == 4 September - Essendon wins the first Victorian Football League premiership. 8 October - The Australasian Athletic Union is established in Sydney. Gaulus wins the Melbourne Cup New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield == Births == 10 February - Judith Anderson (died 1992), actress 6 July - Frank Walsh (died 1968), Premier of South Australia 9 July - Enid Lyons (died 1981), politician 28 July - James Fairbairn (died 1940), politician 6 August - William Slim (died 1970), Governor General of Australia 5 October - Percy Spender (died 1985), politician and diplomat 7 October - Charles Chauvel (died 1959), film maker == Deaths == 11 June - Henry Ayers (born 1821), Premier of South Australia 11 July - Patrick Jennings (born 1831), Premier of New South Wales 15 August - Lily Poulett-Harris (born 1873), founder of women's cricket in Australia 15 November - Alfred Kennerley (born 1810), Premier of Tasmania 20 November - Ernest Giles (born 1835), explorer == References ==