The following lists events that happened during 1906 in Australia.

Incumbents

Monarch – Edward VII Governor General – Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote Prime Minister – Alfred Deakin Chief Justice – Samuel Griffith

State premiers Premier of New South Wales – Joseph Carruthers Premier of South Australia – Thomas Price Premier of Queensland – Arthur Morgan (to 19 January), then William Kidston Premier of Tasmania – John Evans Premier of Western Australia – Cornthwaite Rason (to 7 May), then Newton Moore Premier of Victoria – Thomas Bent

State governors Governor of New South Wales – Sir Harry Rawson Governor of South Australia – Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte Governor of Queensland – Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford (from 30 November) Governor of Tasmania – Sir Gerald Strickland Governor of Western Australia – Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford Governor of Victoria – Major General Sir Reginald Talbot

Events 27 January – A cyclone damages Cairns and Innisfail in Queensland. 6 February – The world's first surf lifesaving club is formed at Bondi Beach. 5 May – The first electric trams begin running in Melbourne from St Kilda to Brighton. 16 June – The town of Roma, Queensland becomes the first town in Australia to be lit and powered by natural gas, however the gas reserve only lasts ten days. 16 July – The Australian Army Cadet Corps is formed. 1 September – Control of British New Guinea is formally transferred to Australia from Britain. 12 December – 1906 Australian federal election: The government of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin is returned to power, however voter turn-out is low.

Science and technology 12 July – The first wireless radio transmission is made from the Australian mainland between Point Lonsdale, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania.

Arts and literature

Film 26 December – The national premiere of The Story of the Kelly Gang, generally regarded as the world's first feature length film, takes place at the Athenaeum Hall in Melbourne.

Sport 26 January – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield. 26 April – 2 May – The 1906 Intercalated Games are held in Athens, Greece – Australia wins three bronze medals. 22 September – Carlton wins the VFL grand final, beating Fitzroy 15.4 (94) to 6.9 (45). 6 November – Poseidon wins the Melbourne Cup.

Births 19 January – Rachel Cleland, community worker (died 2002) 5 February – Alexander Spence, soldier (died 1983) 16 May – Ernie McCormick, cricketer (died 1991) 27 May – Raymond Ferrall, businessman, author and cricketer (died 2000) 9 July – Roy Leaper, Australian rules footballer (died 2002) 14 July – Stan Devenish Meares, obstetrician and gynaecologist (died 1994) 17 July – Dunc Gray, Olympic cyclist (died 1996) 12 August – Harry Hopman, tennis player and coach (died 1985) 22 August – Lotus Thompson, silent film actress (died 1963) 31 August – Edwin Sherbon Hills, geologist (died 1986) 2 October – Thomas Hollway, Premier of Victoria (died 1971) 21 November – Tom Clarke, VFL footballer for Essendon (died 1981) 30 November – Mabel Miller, lawyer and politician (died 1978) 3 December – Frank Packer, media proprietor and father of Kerry Packer (died 1974) 9 December – Douglas Nicholls, Aboriginal pastor and Governor of South Australia (died 1988) 22 December – Clive Turnbull, Tasmanian author and journalist (died 1975)

Deaths

1 January – Sir Hugh Nelson, 11th Premier of Queensland (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1833) 4 January – Jessie Rooke, suffragette and temperance reformer (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1845) 14 January – Henry Yelverton, Western Australian politician (b. 1854) 6 February – James Bonwick, writer (born and died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1817) 5 March – Hugh Ramsay, artist (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1877) 7 March – Frederick William Haddon, journalist (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1839) 14 March – George Coppin, Victorian politician, actor and entrepreneur (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1819) 21 March – Thomas Macdonald-Paterson, Queensland politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1844) 30 March – John Ferguson, Queensland politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1830) 10 April – Sir Adye Douglas, 15th Premier of Tasmania (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1815) 16 April – William Farrer, agronomist (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1845) 6 August – George Waterhouse, 6th Premier of South Australia and 7th Premier of New Zealand (born and died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1824) 8 August – William Purkiss, Western Australian politician (b. 1844) 3 September – Sir Samuel Davenport, South Australian politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1818) 31 October – Charles Troedel, printer (born in Germany) (b. 1836) 22 November – Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden, 19th Governor of New South Wales (born and died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1841)

See also List of Australian films before 1910

References