1936 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1936 in Australia.

Incumbents

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

State Premiers

State Governors

Governor of New South Wales – Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Baron Gowrie, then Sir David Anderson
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

15 January – Torres Strait Islanders begin a four-month general maritime strike, in an effort to take control their own affairs and gain fairer treatment.
20 January – King George V dies, and is succeeded as King of Australia by his son, Edward VIII.
1 February – Special patrol officers are appointed to safeguard Aboriginal welfare in the Northern Territory.
24 February – A special conference of the Australian Labor Party re-admits former Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang, after a five-year expulsion.
12 March – Western Australia makes voting compulsory in state elections.
25 March – A submarine communications cable between Victoria and Tasmania commences operation.
1 July – Australian National Airways is registered as a company.
8 July – The Federal Government announces an increase in military training strength, in response to the rise of fascism in Europe.
7 September – The last known thylacine dies at Hobart Zoo.
20 October – British woman Mabel Freer is refused entry to Australia on morality grounds, sparking a political controversy.
10 November – The High Court of Australia rules in the case of R v Burgess; Ex parte Henry, that the Commonwealth government's power to regulate interstate trade and commerce did not extend to intrastate trade and commerce.
11 December – King Edward VIII abdicates from the throne of the United Kingdom, and is succeeded as King of Australia by his brother George VI.
16 December – A Brisbane to Adelaide air race is held to commemorate South Australia's centenary. Ivy May Pearce makes national headlines as the youngest entrant who recorded the fastest time of any woman pilot, heavily handicapped and just two seconds behind the eventual winner. In this race she even beat Reg Ansett, founder of Ansett Airlines. Ivy went on to win many air races.

Unknown

Grant v The Australian Knitting Mills – a landmark case in consumer law.

Arts and literature

"Dawn Song" for piano and cello or viol published by Australian Composer Louis Isodore Lavater

Sport

12 September – The 1936 NSWRFL season culminates in Eastern Suburbs' 32–12 victory over Balmain in the premiership final. University finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon for the third year in a row.

Births

7 January – Ben Cropp, hunter and photographer
8 January – Robert May, Baron May of Oxford, scientist and life peer of the United Kingdom
10 January – Burnum Burnum, Aboriginal activist, author and actor
22 January – Noel Kelly, professional rugby league footballer and coach
23 January – Brian Howe, politician
2 February – John Hyde, politician
3 February – Bob Simpson, cricketer
13 February – Judith Rodriguez, poet
17 February – Barry Jarman, cricketer
24 February – John Baker, soldier and Chief of the Defence Force
27 February
*Ron Barassi, Australian rules football player and coach
*Ian Tomlinson, triple and long jumper
28 February – Robin Klein, author
2 March – Alan Scott, Australian blacksmith, brick oven constructor
6 May – Brian Johns, managing director of the ABC
6 June – Elaine Darling, Queensland politician
16 June – Charles Perkins, Aboriginal activist
29 June – Eddie Mabo, indigenous land rights campaigner
30 June – Barry Gration, senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force
26 July – John Bathersby, Catholic bishop
10 August – Frank Ford, politician
16 August – Lindsay Gaze, basketballer
25 August – Ian Thorogood, Australian rules footballer and coach
28 September – Eddie Lumsden, rugby league player
13 October – Robert Ingpen, graphic designer and illustrator
19 October – Rex Harry, cricketer
4 November – Brian Gibson, Senator for Tasmania
5 November – Robert O'Neill, military historian
16 November – John Moore, Minister for Defence
11 December – Maggie Tabberer, fashion model and media personality
27 December
* James Harrison, blood donor
* Alex Miller, novelist

Deaths

15 January – Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster, 7th Governor-General of Australia
22 February – John Allan, 29th Premier of Victoria
4 March – Arthur H. Adams, journalist and author
23 March – Oscar Asche, actor, writer and producer
10 June
* Sir John Bowser, 26th Premier of Victoria
* Arthur Henry Shakespeare Lucas, schoolmaster and scientist
26 June – Samuel Mauger, Victorian politician
21 July – William Frederick Foster, New South Wales politician and builder
27 July – Sir Albert Gould, New South Wales politician
29 July – Sir Frank Gavan Duffy, 4th Chief Justice of Australia
7 September – The last captive thylacine
28 September – Thomas Glassey, 1st Queensland Opposition Leader
3 October – William Webster, New South Wales politician
28 October – Sir Newton Moore, 8th Premier of Western Australia
6 November – Sir Littleton Groom, Queensland politician
16 November – Jens Jensen, Tasmanian politician