1856 in Australia
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See also: 1855 in Australia, other events of 1856, 1857 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Contents |
[edit] Incumbents
[edit] Governors
Governors of the Australian colonies:
- Governor of New South Wales - Sir William Denison
- Governor Queensland - office not created until 1859
- Governor of South Australia - Sir Richard MacDonnell
- Governor of Tasmania - Sir Henry Young
- Governor of Victoria - Sir Henry Barkly
- Governor of Western Australia as a Crown Colony - Captain Charles Fitzgerald
[edit] Premiers
Premiers of the Australian colonies:
- Premier of New South Wales - Stuart Donaldson from 6 June to 25 August then Charles Cowper to 2 October then Henry Parker
- Premier of Queensland - office not created until 1859
- Premier of South Australia - Boyle Finniss from 24 October
- Premier of Tasmania - William Champ from 1 November
- Premier of Victoria - Dr William Haines
- Premier of Western Australia - office not created until 1890
[edit] Events
- February 7 - Tasmanian Electoral Act introduced the secret ballot, which was known elsewhere, in particular in the United States as the "Australian ballot"
- March 19 - The Electoral Act 1856 introduced the secret ballot in Victoria
- April 2 - South Australia introduced the secret ballot
- April 11 - At a public meeting in Melbourne, Dr Thomas Embling repeated the slogan "eight hours labour, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest".
- May 22 - First Parliament of New South Wales opened by the governor, Sir William Denison
- June 24 - Queen Victoria makes Norfolk Island a separate settlement from Tasmania to be administered by the Governor of New South Wales.
- September 23 - The town of Perth, Western Australia is proclaimed a City by letters patent from Queen Victoria.
[edit] Exploration and Settlement
- January 1 - The name Tasmania officially adopted to replace Van Diemen's Land which was felt to have too many convict connotations.
- June 8 - Pitcairn Islanders arrived on Norfolk Island; the last convict had left and the island was no longer a penal colony. Queen Victoria granted the Island to the Pitcairners as a home. Bounty Day is celebrated each year in Norfolk Island to commemorate the event.
[edit] Births
- March 8 - Tom Roberts, artist (d. 1931)
- August 3 - Alfred Deakin, Prime Minister of Australia (d. 1919)
- September 19 - Arthur Morgan, Premier of Queensland (d. 1916)
- December 3 - George Leake, Premier of Western Australia (d. 1902)
[edit] Deaths
- January 1 - Convict William Buckley dies near Hobart, aged 75.
