1905 in Australia

Incumbents

• Monarch – Edward VII
• Governor-General – Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, then Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote
• Prime Minister – George Reid, then Alfred Deakin
• Chief Justice – Samuel Griffith

State premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – Joseph Carruthers
• Premier of South Australia – John Jenkins, then Richard Butler, then Thomas Price
• Premier of Queensland – Arthur Morgan
• Premier of Tasmania – John Evans
• Premier of Western Australia – Henry Daglish, then Cornthwaite Rason
• Premier of Victoria – Thomas Bent

State governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Admiral Sir Harry Rawson
• Governor of South Australia – Sir George Ruvthen Le Hunt
• Governor of Queensland – Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford
• Governor of Tasmania – Sir Gerald Strickland
• Governor of Western Australia – Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford
• Governor of Victoria – Major General Sir Reginald Talbot

Events

• 1 March – John Jenkins resigns as Premier of South Australia to become Agent-General for South Australia in London. He is replaced by Richard Butler.
• 12 May – The first meeting of the Australian Council of Defence takes place between the Minister for Defence, the Treasurer, the Inspector-General Army, the Chief of Intelligence, and the Director of the Naval Forces.
• 18 May – A state election takes place in Queensland, returning the government of Arthur Morgan. Women are able to vote in Queensland state elections for the first time.
• 24 May – Empire Day is first celebrated in Australia.
• 28 May – The town of Maryborough in Queensland experiences an outbreak of pneumonic plague.
• 5 July – Alfred Deakin resumes office as Prime Minister of Australia after George Reid is unable to form a stable ministry.
• 26 July – A state election is held in South Australia. The Labor Party led by Thomas Price forms a minority government.
• 6 September – Last sighting of the clipper ship Loch Vennachar which sinks off Kangaroo Island, killing 32 people. Only one body was found.unknown dates
• *Non-aboriginal women are given the vote and admitted to the practice of law in Queensland.
• *Workers' compensation is introduced in Queensland.

Arts and literature

• Albert J. Hanson wins the Wynne Prize with ''The Blue Noon''

Sport

• 1 February – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
• 15 July – Australia first competes in the Davis Cup, in a combined Australasian team with New Zealand.
• 30 September – Fitzroy wins the VFL premiership.
• 7 November – Blue Spec wins the Melbourne Cup.
• Australia loses cricket series to England 0–2

Births

• 10 January - Albert Arlen, pianist, composer, actor, and playwright
• 15 February – Heathcote Howard Hammer, brigadier
• 1 April – Paul Hasluck, Governor General of Australia
• 11 July – Betty Allan, statistician and biometrician
• 1 August – Eddie Gilbert, cricketer
• 2 November – Allan Walters, air vice-marshal
• 18 December – Roy Grounds, architect

Deaths

• 15 January – George Thorn, Premier of Queensland
• 6 May – Robert Herbert, Premier of Queensland
• 25 June – Augustus Gregory, explorer
• 5 July – Henry Baylis, police magistrate
• 30 October – Boyd Dunlop Morehead, Premier of Queensland
• 29 December – Victor Daley, poet