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

← 1946 1945 1944 1947 in Australia → 1948 1949 1950
Decades:	1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	1947 in Australian literature 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

• 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

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]
• 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 ^[13]
• 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
• 23 June – Bryan Brown, actor
• 25 June – Robert Percy, Australian rules footballer
• 14 July – John Blackman, radio and television presenter (died 2024)
• 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 and actor
• 28 August – Jennie George, politician and trade unionist
• 5 September – Bruce Yardley, Test cricketer (died 2019)
• 25 September – Barrie Robran, Australian rules footballer (died 2025) ^[14]
• 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
  • Dick Diamonde, bass guitarist (died 2024)
  • Andrew Olle, television and radio broadcaster (died 1995)

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)
• 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)

See also

• List of Australian films of the 1940s

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. "Lorraine Landon OAM: Admin – Basketball". Sports Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
14. "Radio host rushes off air after death of iconic family member". 7NEWS. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.