1905 in Australia
The following lists events that happened during 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