The following events happened in Australia in the year 1877.
Incumbents
Governors Governors of the Australian colonies: Governor of New South Wales – Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead Governor of Queensland – Sir William Cairns until 14 March, then Arthur Kennedy Governor of South Australia – Sir Anthony Musgrave until 29 January, then William Jervois Governor of Tasmania – Frederick Weld Governor of Victoria – Sir George Bowen Governor of Western Australia – Sir William Robinson GCMG, then Major General The Hon. Sir Harry Ord GCMG CB RE
Premiers Premiers of the Australian colonies: Premier of New South Wales – until 21 March: John Robertson 21 March-16 August: Henry Parkes 17 August-17 December: John Robertson starting 17 December: James Farnell Premier of Queensland – George Thorn until 8 March, then John Douglas Premier of South Australia – John Colton until 26 October, then James Boucaut Premier of Tasmania – Thomas Reibey until 9 August, then Philip Fysh Premier of Victoria – James McCulloch
Events 8 March – John Douglas becomes Premier of Queensland 10 March – Cloncurry was established 15 March to 4 April – 1877 Australia v England series is played 1 April – A settlement on Thursday Island was established for the refueling of steam ships 8 June – Lutherans found the Hermannsburg Mission at Finke River in the Northern Territory 20 July – Arthur Kennedy becomes Governor of Queensland 9 August – Philip Fysh becomes Premier of Tasmania 17 August – John Robertson begins another term as Premier of New South Wales 11 September – Ships Avalanche and Forrest collide off Portland, Victoria, only 3 of the 107 passengers are saved 2 October – William Jervois becomes Governor of South Australia 26 October – James Boucaut becomes Premier of South Australia 12 November – Harry Ord becomes Governor of Western Australia 8 December – Telegraph line between Western Australia and South Australia completed, linking Western Australia to the east coast by telegraphy for the first time, via Adelaide.
Arts and literature
Sport 30 April – South Australian Football League founded. 17 May – Victorian Football Association founded.
Births 17 January – May Gibbs 25 August – John Latham 8 October – Hans Heysen 14 November – Norman Brookes
Deaths 25 March – Caroline Chisholm, humanitarian (b. 1808) 2 April – Bully Hayes, ship's captain and trader 7 April – John Arthur, Tasmanian cricketer (b. 1847) 16 June – John Fairfax, journalist and politician (b. 1804) 18 July – Joseph Anderson, Norfolk Island administrator (b. 1790) 17 August – Martin Cash, convict escapee (born 1808) 16 September – Saxe Bannister, first Attorney General of New South Wales (b. 1790)
References