1912 in Australia

See also: 1911 in Australia, other events of 1912, 1913 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

• Monarch – George V
• Governor-General – The Right Hon. Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman
• Prime Minister – Andrew Fisher

State premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – James McGowen
• Premier of Queensland – Digby Denham
• Premier of South Australia – John Verran (until 17 February), then Archibald Peake
• Premier of Tasmania – Elliott Lewis (until 14 June), then Albert Solomon
• Premier of Victoria – John Murray (until 18 May), then William Watt
• Premier of Western Australia – John Scaddan

State governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford
• Governor of Queensland – Sir William MacGregor
• Governor of South Australia – Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet
• Governor of Tasmania – Major General Sir Harry Barron
• Governor of Victoria – Sir John Fuller
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Gerald Strickland

Events

• 6 January – First aircraft crash in Australia, between Mount Druitt and Rooty Hill.^[1][2]
• 18 January – Tramway Employees Association members are dismissed for wearing union badges to work—the ensuing protest marks the beginning of the 1912 Brisbane general strike.^[3]
• 4 February – Police officers and special constables attack protesters and strikers at Market Square in Brisbane during the 1912 Brisbane general strike. The day becomes known as "Baton Friday" and later, "Black Friday".^[3]
• 20 or 21 March – The SS Koombana sinks off Western Australia during a cyclone, killing around 150 people.^[4]
• 13 April – Francis Birtles becomes the first person to cross the Nullarbor Plain by car.^[5]
• 24 April – The NSW government grants 43 acres (17 ha) of land for the construction of a zoological garden, later known as Taronga Park.^[6]
• 30 May – The light cruiser HMAS Melbourne is launched in England.^[7]
• 15 July – The first branches of the Commonwealth Bank open in Melbourne and country Victoria. The Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, is the bank's first account holder and depositor.^[8]
• 19 September – An amended version of the coat of arms of Australia is granted Royal Assent by George V. The Golden Wattle is declared Australia's floral emblem.
• 10 October – The Maternity Allowance Act 1912 is passed, granting a "Baby Bonus" of five pounds to the mother of every child born in Australia (indigenous mothers and other non-citizens are excluded).^[9]
• 12 October – Forty-two people die in the North Mount Lyell Disaster on the west coast of Tasmania.

Sport

• 29 January – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield.
• 5 May to 27 July – Australia sends women to the Olympic Games, the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, for the first time. Australasia won 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals. Fanny Durack won the 100 metres freestyle. Australasia won the men's 4x200m freestyle relay.
• 17 August – The 1912 NSWRFL Premiership is won by Eastern Suburbs.
• 28 September – The Essendon Bombers win the VFL Grand Final—their second consecutive premiership—defeating South Melbourne Swans 5.17 (47) to 4.9 (33).
• 5 November – Piastre wins the Melbourne Cup.

Births

• 5 January – Doris Carter, athlete (died 1999)
• 3 February – Jack Metcalfe, athlete (died 1994)
• 7 February – Russell Drysdale, artist (died 1981)
• 12 March – Kylie Tennant, writer (died 1988)
• 28 May – Patrick White, writer (died 1990)
• 4 June – William Dargie, painter (died 2003)
• 1 August – David Brand, Premier of Western Australia (died 1979)
• 1 August – Damien Parer, war photographer (died 1944)
• 2 August – Gwen Plumb, entertainer (died 2002)
• 18 November – Vic Hey (died 1995), rugby league footballer and coach

Deaths

• 23 January – Martin Howy Irving (born 1831), educationist
• 10 February – Thomas Reibey (born 1821), Premier of Tasmania (1876–1877)
• 20 February – Albert Bythesea Weigall (born 1840), headmaster of Sydney Grammar School
• 11 March – William Austin Zeal (born 1830), railway engineer and politician
• 3 April – Philip Argall (born 1855), Test cricket umpire
• 20 April – Charles Harper (born 1842), pastoralist, newspaper proprieter and politician
• 21 May – Mick Grace (born 1874), VFL footballer
• 5 June – Francis James Gillen (born 1855), anthropologist and ethnologist
• 25 June – William Guilfoyle (born 1840), botanist
• 27 June – George Bonnor (born 1855), cricketer
• 29 June – Frederick Henry Piesse (born 1853), businessman and politician
• 13 September – Joseph Furphy (born 1843), novelist who wrote under the pseudonym Tom Collins
• 29 September – James Charles Cox (born 1834), physician and conchologist
• 18 November – Richard O'Connor (born 1851), Senator and High Court judge
• 16 December – George Rignold (born 1839), English actor

References