1946 in Australia

Incumbents

• Monarch – George VI
• Governor-General – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
• Prime Minister – Ben Chifley
• Chief Justice – Sir John Latham

State Premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – William McKell
• Premier of Queensland – Frank Cooper, then Ned Hanlon
• Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV
• Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove
• Premier of Victoria – John Cain
• Premier of Western Australia – Frank Wise

State Governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
• Governor of Queensland – Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, then Sir John Lavarack
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Charles Norrie
• Governor of Tasmania – Sir Hugh Binney
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Winston Dugan
• Governor of Western Australia – ''none appointed''

Events

• 26 January – Foundation Day is renamed Australia Day.
• 18 February – The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Norman Gilroy, becomes Cardinal Gilroy, the first Australian born member of the College of Cardinals
• 10 March – An Australian National Airways DC-3 aircraft crashes near Hobart, killing 25 people.
• 1 May – At least 800 Aboriginal pastoral workers walk off the job in Northwest Western Australia, starting one of the longest industrial strikes in Australia.
• 6 June – The ABC makes the first national broadcast of a federal parliamentary debate.
• 19 July – Orange, New South Wales is proclaimed a city.
• 30 August – Lismore, New South Wales is proclaimed a city.
• 9 September – Trans Australia Airlines makes its first flight.
• 28 September – A federal election is held. The Australian Labor Party and Prime Minister Ben Chifley are returned to power. A three-question referendum is also held: the question on Social Services is carried; questions on Marketing and Industrial Employment are not.
• 23 November – A general election is held in Tasmania. The Labor Party led by Robert Cosgrove is returned to power with a reduced majority.
• 13 December – The United Nations grants Australia trusteeship of Territory of New Guinea and Territory of Papua.

Science and technology

• 7 August – Overseas Telecommunications Commission established by an Act of Parliament in August 1946. It inherited facilities and resources from AWA and Cable & Wireless, and was charged with responsibility for all international telecommunications services into, through and out of Australia.

Arts and literature

• William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of L. C. Robson

Film

• The Overlanders is released, starring Chips Rafferty

Politics

• establishment of the Western Australian Women’s Parliament

Sport

• 14 September – Balmain win the 1946 NSWRFL season, defeating St. George 13–12 in the grand final. South Sydney, after not winning a game all season, finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon for the second year in a row.Morna takes line honours and Christina wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
• Russia wins the Melbourne Cup
• New Zealand defeats Australia 2–0 in a Rugby union test

Births

• 8 February – Bob Collins, politician
• 24 February – Bob Pearce, politician
• 3 March – Tim Fischer, politician
• 4 April – Colin Coates, ice speed skater
• 10 April – Anne Boyd, composer
• 17 April – Kerry O'Brien, middle-distance runner
• 23 May – David Graham, golfer
• 3 June – Tristan Rogers, Australian-American actor
• 9 July – Bon Scott, singer
• 1 August – Fiona Stanley, epidemiologist
• 15 August – Victor Salvemini, Paralympic athlete
• 1 September – Barry Gibb, musician-songwriter
• 16 September – Mike Reynolds, Qld Parliament Speaker
• 18 October – Penelope Wensley, Governor of Queensland
• 28 October – John Hewson, politician
• 30 October – Doug Parkinson, singer
• 2 November – Alan Jones, racing driver
• 20 December – John Bertrand, yachtsman

Deaths

• 2 January – Joe Darling, cricketer
• 12 February – Sir David Gordon, South Australian politician
• 20 March – Ethel Richardson, author
• 27 March – Sir Robert Best, Victorian politician and lawyer
• 13 September – William Watt, 24th Premier of Victoria