1936 in Australia

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1936 in Australia

1936 was a year of royal changes, political events, and notable firsts in Australia. The country saw three different monarchs during the year, new laws for voting, important court decisions, and memorable moments in sport, culture, and public life. One sad event marked the year as the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) disappeared.

Incumbents
- Monarch: George V until January 20; Edward VIII until December 11; George VI from December 11.
- Governor-General: Isaac Isaacs until January 23; Alexander Hore-Ruthven from January 23.
- Prime Minister: Joseph Lyons.
- Population: about 6,778,372.
- Elections: Western Australia made voting compulsory in state elections (March 12).

State Premiers
- New South Wales: Bertram Stevens
- Queensland: William Forgan Smith
- South Australia: Richard L. Butler
- Tasmania: Albert Ogilvie
- Victoria: Albert Dunstan
- Western Australia: Philip Collier (until August 20), then John Willcock

State Governors
- New South Wales: Alexander Hore-Ruthven (until January 22); then Sir David Anderson (from August 6)
- Queensland: Leslie Orme Wilson
- South Australia: Winston Dugan
- Tasmania: Ernest Clark
- Victoria: William Vanneck (5th Baron Huntingfield)
- Western Australia: no appointment listed

Events
- January 15: Torres Strait Islanders begin a four‑month general maritime strike to seek more control over their affairs.
- January 20: King George V dies; Edward VIII becomes King of Australia.
- February 1: Special patrol officers appointed to protect Aboriginal welfare in the Northern Territory.
- February 24: A conference re-admits former NSW Premier Jack Lang to the Australian Labor Party.
- March 12: Western Australia makes voting compulsory in state elections.
- March 25: A submarine cable between Victoria and Tasmania begins operation.
- July 1: Australian National Airways is registered as a company.
- July 8: The government announces stronger military training in response to fascism in Europe.
- September 7: The last known Tasmanian tiger dies at Hobart Zoo.
- October 20: Mabel Freer, a British woman, is refused entry on morality grounds, causing political controversy.
- November 10: High Court rules in R v Burgess; Ex parte Henry that the Commonwealth’s power over interstate trade does not extend to intrastate trade.
- December 11: King Edward VIII abdicates; George VI becomes king of Australia.
- December 16: A Brisbane–Adelaide air race celebrates the South Australian centenary; Ivy May Pearce gains national headlines as a young and fast female pilot.

Arts and literature
- In Australian literature, 1936 saw notable work such as Dawn Song by Louis Lavater, among other cultural developments.

Sport
- September 12: In rugby league, Eastern Suburbs defeats Balmain 32–12 to win the premiership; the University club finishes last.

Births
- Notable Australians born in 1936 include Eddie Mabo (indigenous land rights campaigner) and Charles Perkins (aboriginal activist), as well as Ron Barassi (Australian rules footballer). A number of other future leaders, artists and athletes were born this year.

Deaths
- January 15: Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster, former Governor-General of Australia (born 1866).
- March 23: Oscar Asche, actor, writer and producer (born 1871).
- Other notable figures who died in 1936 included various politicians, judges and public figures of the era.

See also
- 1936 in Australian literature
- Timeline of Australian history
- 1936 in Australia (general events of the year)

This shorter version covers the main points of 1936 in Australia in clear, easy-to-understand language.