1911 in Australia

See also: 1910 in Australia, other events of 1911, 1912 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

• Monarch – George V
• Governor-General – William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley (until 31 July), then Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman
• Prime Minister – Andrew Fisher

State premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – James McGowen
• Premier of Queensland – William Kidston (until 7 February), then Digby Denham
• Premier of South Australia – John Verran
• Premier of Tasmania – Elliott Lewis
• Premier of Victoria – John Murray
• Premier of Western Australia – Frank Wilson (until 7 October), then John Scaddan

State governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford
• Governor of South Australia – Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet
• Governor of Queensland – Sir William MacGregor
• Governor of Tasmania – Major General Sir Harry Barron
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Gerald Strickland
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael

Events

• The Australian Capital Territory is established through the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910.
• 1 January – The Northern Territory is politically separated from South Australia and transferred to Commonwealth control. The city of Palmerston is renamed Darwin in honour of Charles Darwin.^[1]
• 1 January – Compulsory military training comes into effect in Australia.
• 23 March – The steamer SS Yongala sinks in a cyclone off the coast of Townsville, Queensland killing 122 people.
• 3 April - 1911 Australia Census was the first national population census. The day used for the census, was taken for the night between the 2 and 3 April 1911. The total population of the Commonwealth of Australia was counted as 4,455,005.
• 26 April – A federal referendum is held containing two questions: one on Trade and Commerce and the other on Nationalisation of Monopolies. Neither is carried.
• 30 May – The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is established.
• 1 June – The University of Queensland opens.^[2]
• 10 July – King George V grants the title of Royal Australian Navy to Australia's naval forces.
• 27 June – The Royal Military College, Duntroon opens.^[3]
• 3 October – A state election is held in Western Australia. The Labor Party led by John Scaddan defeats the incumbent government of Frank Wilson.
• 2 December – The Australasian Antarctic Expedition, led by Douglas Mawson, leaves Hobart to begin an expedition to Antarctica.
• The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is established by the Commonwealth Bank Act 1911.
• 18 December - The Marburg railway line opens in South west Queensland

Arts and literature

• The Austral Society ceased functioning.

Sport

• 16 September – The 1911 NSWRFL season culminates in a final re-play win to Eastern Suburbs.
• 30 September – Essendon become premiers of the 1911 VFL season, defeating Collingwood 5.11 (41) to 4.11 (35).
• 7 November – The Parisian wins the Melbourne Cup.

Births

• 7 January – Mervyn Waite (died 1985), cricketer
• 11 January – Nora Heysen (died 2003), artist
• 21 January – Dick Garrard (died 2003), Olympic wrestler
• 2 February – Jack Pizzey (died 1968), Premier of Queensland (1968)
• 16 February – Hal Porter (died 1984), author and playwright
• 1 March – Ian Mudie (died 1976), poet
• 12 March – Ainslie Roberts (died 1993), artist
• 13 March – Dorothy Tangney (died 1985), first female Senator
• 18 March – Deverick John Cronin (died 1979), Australian rules football player
• 14 April – Reginald Swartz (died 2006), soldier and politician
• 22 April – Max Dupain (died 1992), photographer
• 25 April – Leonard Long, artist
• 4 June – Alan Walker (died 2002), theologian
• 21 June – Chester Wilmot (died 1954), war correspondent
• 4 July – Bruce Hamilton, Australian public servant (d. 1989)
• 5 July – Haydn Bunton, Sr (died 1955), Australian Rules footballer (Fitzroy)
• 7 July – Keith Jones, surgeon
• 27 August – Bluey Wilkinson (died 1940), speedway rider
• 9 September – John Gorton (died 2002), 19th Prime Minister of Australia (1968–1971)
• 16 September – Wilfred Burchett (died 1983), journalist and alleged KGB agent
• 21 September – Afferbeck Lauder (Alastair Ardoch Morrison, died 1998), author of Let's Talk Strine
• 22 September – George Bennett, Australian Rules footballer
• 29 September – Charles Court (died 2007), Premier of Western Australia (1974–1982)
• 14 October – Marcus Loane, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Primate of Australia
• 1 November – Samuel Warren Carey (died 2002), geologist
• 8 November – Robert Gillman Allen Jackson (died 1991), United Nations administrator

Deaths

• 18 February – Billy Murdoch (born 1854), cricketer
• 4 March – William Randell (born 1824), politician and pioneer
• 18 March – Richard Baker (born 1842), politician
• 6 May – Thomas Edward Spencer (born 1845), writer
• 9 July – Douglas Fry (born 1872), artist
• 13 July – Allan McLean (born 1840), Premier of Victoria (1899–1900)
• 16 August – Patrick Francis Moran (born 1830), Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney
• 13 September – James Rutherford (born 1827), transit pioneer
• 23 September – John Arthur Barry (born 1850), journalist and writer
• 5 October – William Astley (born 1854), short story writer ("Price Warung")
• 6 October – Sir John Charles Hoad (born 1856), soldier
• 8 October – Lee Batchelor (born 1865), politician

See also

• List of Australian films of the 1910s

References