1944 in Australia
See also: 1943 in Australia, other events of 1944, 1945 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Incumbents
State Premiers
State Governors
Events
- 17 January – Meat rationing begins in Australia.
- 20 January – Seventeen people are killed at Brooklyn, New South Wales when a mail train and a bus collide at a level crossing. There is only one survivor, Gloria Iren Silvia.
- 15 February – Bushfires in the Western District, Gippsland and Yallourn regions of Victoria kill 51 people.
- 15 April – Fred Paterson is elected to the Parliament of Queensland, representing the seat of Bowen. He remains the only member of the Communist Party of Australia to ever be elected to an Australian Parliament.
- 30 June – Sydney waiter Antonio Agostini is sentenced to six years prison for the manslaughter of his wife, Linda Agostini, in what was known as the "Pyjama Girl" murder.
- 5 August – The Cowra breakout occurs, with 545 Japanese prisoners of war escaping from the camp.
- 19 August – A referendum is held, concerning Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights. It proposes to grant the government power to legislate over 14 points of law for a five-year period. The referendum, asked in a single question, is not carried.
- 21 October – The heavy cruiser HMAS Australia, operating in the Philippines, is hit by a kamikaze aircraft, killing 20 and wounding 54, in what is believed to be the first attack of its kind.
- 25 November – Reg Saunders becomes the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Army.
- 14 December – The Liberal Party of Australia is formed, replacing the United Australia Party.
Arts and literature
Film
- The film of the story of The Rats of Tobruk is released, directed by Charles Chauvel
Sport
Births
- 14 January – Graham Marsh, golfer
- 18 January – Paul Keating, Prime Minister of Australia (1991–1996)
- 19 January – Paul Gibson, NSW politician
- 3 February – Trisha Noble, singer and actress
- 9 February – Derryn Hinch, media personality
- 10 February – Peter Allen, entertainer (d. 1992)
- 17 February – Robert Dessaix, writer
- 18 March – Dick Smith, businessman
- 22 April – Damien Broderick, science fiction author
- 22 May – John Flanagan, author
- 23 May – John Newcombe, tennis player
- 26 May – Andrew Jones, politician
- 28 May – Paul D. Scully-Power, oceanographer and astronaut
- 6 June – Matt Carroll, film and television producer
- 6 June – Rene Rivkin, businessman (d. 2005)
- 4 July – Ray Meagher, actor
- 23 July – Alex Buzo, playwright and author (d. 2006)
- 17 August – Nicholas John Vine-Hall, genealogist
- 21 August – Peter Weir, film director
- 2 September – Ray Groom, Premier of Tasmania (1992–1996)
- 8 September – Terry Jenner, cricketer
- 5 September – Gareth Evans, politician
- 11 September – Alan Gilbert, academic and university Vice-Chancellor
- 13 September – Midget Farrelly, surfer
- 19 September – Colin Dibley, tennis player
- 21 November – Kay Patterson, Liberal Senator for Victoria
- 4 December – Lawrence Peckham, high jumper
- 20 December – Ray Martin, television presenter (60 Minutes – 1979–1985, A Current Affair – 1994–1998 & 2003–3005, Midday – 1985–1993)
- 27 December – Bob Brown, politician
Deaths
- 1 January – Charles Turner (b. 1862), cricketer
- 3 January – Tom Brennan (b. 1866), Victorian politician
- 15 January – Patrick Lynch (b. 1867), Labor Senator for Western Australia
- 5 March – George John Bell (b. 1872), politician
- 31 March – Maurice Blackburn (b. 1880), politician
- 10 May – Digby Denham (b. 1859), Premier of Queensland (1911–1915)
- 24 May – William Butcher (b. 1858), WA politician
- 29 July – Walter Price (b. 1886), cricketer
- 5 August – Ralph Jones (b. 1900), soldier killed during the Cowra breakout
- 21 October – Emile Dechaineux (b. 1902), naval officer, captain of HMAS Australia
- 12 November – Roy Agnew (b. 1891), composer and pianist
- 18 November – James Blair, politician and judge
- 20 November – Charles Frederick Cox (b. 1863), soldier