1896 in Australia
See also: 1895 in Australia, other events of 1896, 1897 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Incumbents
Governors of the Australian colonies
Premiers of the Australian colonies
Events
Science and technology
Arts and literature
- While the Billy Boils, a collection of short stories, is published by Henry Lawson
Sport
Births
- 22 January – Norman Gilroy, first Australian-born Cardinal (d. 1977)
- 8 February – Alfred Percival Bullen, circus proprietor (d. 1974)
- 18 February – John Cramer, politician (d. 1994)
- 5 July – Thomas Playford, Premier of South Australia (d. 1981)
- 11 July – Evelyn Scotney, coloratura soprano (d. 1967)
- 18 July – John Mullens, politician (d. 1978)
- 3 August – Charles Adermann, politician (d. 1979)
- 24 August – Edwin Corboy, politician (d. 1950)
- 28 August – Arthur Calwell, politician (d. 1973)
- 15 September – Norman Lethbridge Cowper, lawyer (d. 1987)
- 29 September – Thomas James Bede Kenny, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient (d. 1953)
- 21 October – Patrick Gordon Taylor, aviator (d. 1966)
- 16 November – Joan Lindsay, author (Picnic at Hanging Rock) (d. 1984)
- 27 November – Arthur Percy Sullivan, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient (d. 1937)
Deaths