1947 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1947 in Australia.

1947 in Australia
Monarch	George VI
Governor-General	Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, then William McKell
Prime minister	Ben Chifley
Population	7,579,358
Elections	VIC, NSW, QLD, WA, SA

List of events

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Decades:

1920s
1930s
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Incumbents

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

Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
Governor of Queensland – Sir John Lavarack
Governor of South Australia – Sir Charles Norrie
Governor of Tasmania – Sir Hugh Binney
Governor of Victoria – Sir Winston Dugan
Governor of Western Australia – none appointed

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

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 (died 2022)
- 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)
8 April – Fay Miller, politician (died 2023)
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)
4 November – Rod Marsh, cricketer (died 2022)
28 December – Andrew Olle, television and radio broadcaster (died 1995)

Deaths

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)
9 May – Hugh de Largie, Western Australian politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1859)
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)

References

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

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