The following lists events that happened during 1938 in Australia.

Incumbents

Monarch – George VI Governor-General – Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Baron Gowrie Prime Minister – Joseph Lyons Chief Justice – Sir John Latham

State Premiers Premier of New South Wales – Bertram Stevens Premier of Queensland – William Forgan Smith Premier of South Australia – Richard L. Butler (until 5 November), then Thomas Playford IV Premier of Tasmania – Albert Ogilvie Premier of Victoria – Albert Dunstan Premier of Western Australia – John Willcock

State Governors Governor of New South Wales – John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst Governor of Queensland – Sir Leslie Orme Wilson Governor of South Australia – Sir Winston Dugan Governor of Tasmania – Sir Ernest Clark Governor of Victoria – William Vanneck, 5th Baron Huntingfield Governor of Western Australia – none appointed

Events

26 January – Australia officially celebrates its sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of European settlement. Unofficially, it is a Day of Mourning for Indigenous Australians. 6 February – Three hundred beachgoers are dragged out to sea when three freak waves strike Bondi Beach in Sydney in an event known as "Black Sunday". A team of eighty surf lifesavers manage to rescue all but five people. 13 February – Nineteen people die when Sydney ferry the Rodney, carrying 150 passengers, capsizes in Sydney Harbour while farewelling US Navy cruiser . 1 April – New monthly newspaper Abo Call begins publication in Sydney, focusing on issues of Aboriginal rights and edited by activist Jack Patten. 11 May – Two jockeys are killed and two are injured in a horse racing accident at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, South Australia. 25 October – Eighteen people die in Australia's worst air disaster when the Douglas DC-2 Kyeema crashes in the Dandenong Ranges in thick fog. 15 November – Waterside workers at Port Kembla, New South Wales refuse to load a consignment of scrap iron destined for Japan, arguing that it would be used for munitions. Attorney-General Robert Menzies attempts to force the loading of the cargo, earning himself the nickname "Pig Iron Bob". 21 December – A direct radio-telephone link is established between Canberra and Washington D.C. 28 December – The Sydney Mail ceases publication.

Arts and literature

31 March – Xavier Herbert wins the Commonwealth 150th anniversary literary award for his novel Capricornia. 30 December – The Passing of the Aborigines by Daisy Bates is published.

Sport 5 to 12 February – The 1938 British Empire Games are held in Sydney. Australia leads the medal tally at the games, winning 25 gold medals, 19 silver and 22 bronze. 19 March – The 1938 Interstate Grand Prix is staged at the Wirlinga circuit in New South Wales.Grand Prix won by J Phillips, Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, 21 March 1938, page 17 20 August – At Royal Park, Melbourne, the Australia national netball team defeated New Zealand 40–11. This was the first netball Test between Australia and New Zealand. 2 September – Canterbury-Bankstown defeat Eastern Suburbs 19 to 6 in the grand final, becoming premiers of the 1938 NSWRFL season. St. George finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon. 1 November – Catalogue wins the Melbourne Cup.

Births 3 January – Alan Ramsey, journalist (died 2020) 12 January Lewis Fiander, actor (died 2016) Noel McNamara, crime victims supporter 13 January – Daevid Allen, musician (Soft Machine) (died 2015) 17 January – David Theile, backstroke swimmer 21 January – Steve Dunleavy, journalist (died 2019) 21 February – John Harvey, racing driver (died 2020) 25 February – Herb Elliott, athlete 28 February – Dennis Olsen, pianist, actor and director 1 March – Henry Reynolds, historian 5 March – Mike Walsh, television presenter 16 March – Jock Austin, Indigenous Australian community leader (died 1990) 19 March – John Winneke, judge (died 2019) 25 March – Anthony Carwardine, naval officer 20 April – Betty Cuthbert, athlete (died 2017) 29 April – Jim Lenehan, rugby union player (died 2022) 5 June – Roy Higgins, jockey (died 2014) 18 June – Kevin Murray, Australian rules footballer (Fitzroy) 19 June – Ian Smith, actor and screenwriter 20 June – Joan Kirner, Premier of Victoria (1990–1992) (died 2015) 23 June – John Gerovich, Australian rules footballer 25 June – Mick Allen, rower (died 2021) 27 June Bob Baxt, lawyer (died 2018) Gordon Rorke, cricketer (died 2025) 28 June – Sergio Silvagni, Australian rules footballer (died 2021) 8 July – Paul Cronin, television and film actor (died 2019) 13 July – Ian Macphee, politician, Minister for Immigration 15 July – Carmen Callil, publisher (died 2022) 16 July – Colin Rice, Australian rules footballer 23 July – Bert Newton, entertainer (died 2021) 28 July – Robert Hughes, art critic (died 2012) 9 August – Rod Laver, tennis player 12 August – Lionel Morgan, rugby league player (died 2023) 22 August – Roger Gyles, lawyer and judge (died 2025) 30 August – Murray Gleeson, High Court judge 2 September – Ernie Sigley, entertainer (died 2021) 8 October – Fred Stolle, tennis player (died 2025) 17 October – Les Murray, poet (died 2019) 30 October – Morris Lurie, writer (died 2014) 8 November – Bob Skilton, Australian rules footballer (South Melbourne) 26 November – Rodney Jory, physicist (died 2021) 4 December – Yvonne Minton, operatic soprano 11 December – Reg Livermore, actor, singer and television presenter 21 December – Frank Moorhouse, writer (died 2022)

Deaths 6 January – John Gavin (born 1875), film director 15 January – Paul Raphael Montford (born 1868), sculptor 21 January – Will Dyson (born 1880), cartoonist 31 January – John Barnes (born 1868), politician 16 February – Thomas Molloy (born 1852), WA politician 21 April – Sir Talbot Hobbs (born 1864), architect 11 May – Lawrence Wells (born 1860), explorer 17 May – Nora Clench (born 1867), Canadian violinist 17 June – Ranji Hordern (born 1883), cricketer 19 June – Jack Hides (born 1906), explorer 22 June – C. J. Dennis (born 1876), poet 29 June – Sir Colin Mackenzie (born 1877), anatomist and museum administrator 30 August – Evelyn Marsden (born 1883), survivor of the Titanic 11 September – Sir Philip Whistler Street (born 1863), NSW Supreme Court judge 12 October – Hugh Massie (born 1854), cricketer 25 October – Charles Hawker (born 1884), politician 29 November – John Sandes (born 1863), journalist and author

See also List of Australian films of the 1930s

References