1947 in Australia

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The following lists events that happened during 1947 in Australia.

1947 in Australia
MonarchyGeorge VI
Governor-GeneralPrince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, then William McKell
Prime ministerBen Chifley
Population7,579,358
ElectionsVIC, NSW, QLD, WA, SA

←

Flag of Australia.svg
 1947
in
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Decades:
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
See also:
  • Other events of 1947
  • Timeline of Australian history

Incumbents[]

Ben Chifley
  • Monarch – George VI
  • Governor-General – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (until 11 March), then William McKell
  • Prime Minister – Ben Chifley
  • Chief Justice – Sir John Latham

State Premiers[]

  • Premier of New South Wales – William McKell (until 6 February), then James McGirr
  • Premier of Queensland – Ned Hanlon
  • Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV
  • Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove (until 18 December), then Edward Brooker
  • Premier of Victoria – John Cain (until 20 November), then Thomas Hollway
  • Premier of Western Australia – Frank Wise (until 1 April), then Ross McLarty

State Governors[]

Events[]

  • 1 January – A massive hailstorm strikes Sydney, causing hundreds of injuries and an estimated £1 million damage.[1]
  • 6 February – William McKell stands down as Premier of New South Wales following royal approval of his appointment as Governor-General. The Labor Party elects James McGirr as its leader and the new Premier.[2]
  • 15 March – A state election is held in Western Australia. The Labor government of Frank Wise is defeated by the Liberal/Country coalition led by Ross McLarty.[3]
  • 3 May – A state election is held in Queensland. Ned Hanlon's Labor government is returned for its sixth term in government.[4]
  • 1 April – The Woomera rocket range is established in South Australia as a testing site for British and Australian missiles.
  • 5 May – A train derails in the Camp Mountain rail accident in Queensland, killing 16 people.
  • 15–17 June – Major flooding in Tasmania.
  • 30 June – The Australian government assumes control of Qantas.[5]
  • 1 July – Real estate company L. J. Hooker is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
  • 5 August – Australia becomes a member of the International Monetary Fund.
  • 30 August – The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration grants workers a 40-hour week.
  • 8 November – A state election is held in Victoria, after the upper house blocks supply.[6] The Labor minority government of John Cain is defeated by a Liberal–Country coalition led by Thomas Hollway.[7]
  • 18 November – Australia reduces its trade tariffs after ratifying the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva.
  • 18 December – Robert Cosgrove resigns as Premier of Tasmania after being indicted on charges of bribery and corruption. Edward Brooker is sworn in as his replacement the next day.[8]
  • 26 December – Heard Island and McDonald Islands in Antarctica are transferred from British control to Australian territories.

Arts and literature[]

Main article: 1947 in Australian literature
  • 17 January – William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of Marcus Clarke.[9]

Sport[]

  • 30 August – Fred Fanning, in his last league match, kicks a VFL/AFL record of eighteen goals against St. Kilda[10]
  • 20 September – Balmain win the 1947 NSWRFL season, claiming their tenth title after defeating minor premiers Canterbury-Bankstown 13–9. The newly formed Parramatta team finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon.
  • 27 September – Carlton 13.8 (86) defeats Essendon 11.19 85 to win the 51st VFL Premiership in the 1947 VFL Grand Final.
  • 4 November – Hiraji wins the Melbourne Cup.[11]
  • 30 December – Morna takes line honours and Westward wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.[12][13]
  • The Parramatta rugby league club is formed in Sydney's West. The Manly-Warringah club is also formed in the Northern Beaches.

Births[]

  • 10 January – David Irvine, diplomat, Director-General of ASIS and ASIO
  • 10 January – Stevie Wright, English-Australian singer-songwriter (died 2015)
  • 29 January – Lorraine Landon, basketball administrator, former player and coach[14]
  • 8 February – Kerrie Biddell, singer and pianist (died 2014)
  • 15 May – Graeham Goble, musician
  • 19 May – David Helfgott, concert pianist
  • 29 May – Stan Zemanek, Australian radio broadcaster (died 2007)
  • 3 June – Mike Burgmann, racing driver and accountant (died 1986)
  • 19 June – James Mason, field hockey player
  • 25 June – Robert Percy, Australian rules footballer
  • 14 July – John Blackman, radio and television presenter
  • 16 July – Don Burke, Television presenter, television producer, author, and horticulturist
  • 28 July – Peter Cosgrove, Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05)
  • 5 August – Angry Anderson, singer & actor
  • 28 August – Jennie George, politician and trade unionist
  • 5 September – Bruce Yardley, Test cricketer (died 2019)
  • 28 September – Bob Carr, Premier of New South Wales (1995–2005); Senator and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2012–13)
  • 2 November – David Ahern, composer (died 1988)

Deaths[]

Sir Joseph Cook
  • 16 January – Traugott Bernhard Zwar, academic, army medical officer and surgeon (b. 1876)
  • 27 February – Charles Hoadley, geologist (b. 1887)
  • 26 April – Hector Lamond, New South Wales politician (b. 1865)
  • 27 April
    • Robert Barr, Victorian politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1862)
    • Roland Green, New South Wales politician (b. 1885)
  • 16 May – William McCormack, 22nd Premier of Queensland (b. 1879)
  • 25 May – Rupert Bunny, painter (b. 1864)
  • 28 May – Walter Duncan, New South Wales politician (b. 1883)
  • 1 July – E. Harold Davies, musician, conductor and teacher (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1867)
  • 30 July – Sir Joseph Cook, 6th Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1860)
  • 28 August – Matthew Reid, Queensland politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1856)
  • 14 September – John Feetham, Anglican bishop (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1873)
  • 26 October – Jack Bailey, New South Wales politician (b. 1871)
  • 19 December – Arthur Wilson, Australian rules footballer, gynaecologist and obstetrician (b. 1888)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Sydney's Hail Storm". The Border Watch. Mount Gambier, SA: National Library of Australia. 4 January 1947. p. 7. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  2. ^ "MR. J. McGIRR NEW PREMIER". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 6 February 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Mr. Wise Resigns". Geraldton Guardian and Express. WA: National Library of Australia. 1 April 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  4. ^ "LOSS OF 2 SEATS IN Q' LAND". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 3 May 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  5. ^ "QANTAS AIRWAYS TAKEN OVER". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 3 July 1947. p. 6. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  6. ^ "SUPPLY REFUSED TO VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 2 October 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  7. ^ "'I HAVE BEEN DEFEATED'—CAIN LABOR LANDSLIDE IN VICTORIAN ELECTION". The Sunday Times. Perth: National Library of Australia. 9 November 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  8. ^ "DEVELOPMENTS IN TASMANIAN POLITICS". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 19 December 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  9. ^ "ARCHIBALD PRIZE TO VICTORIA". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 18 January 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Most Goals in a Game"
  11. ^ "HIRAJI WINS MELBOURNE CUP". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 6 November 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  12. ^ "MORNA YACHT VICTORY". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW: National Library of Australia. 31 December 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  13. ^ "PLACEGETTERS FINISHING". The Mercury. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 4 November 1947. p. 17. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  14. ^ "Lorraine Landon OAM: Admin – Basketball". Sports Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
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