1864 in Australia
The following lists events that happened during 1864 in Australia.
Incumbents
Governors
Governors of the Australian colonies:- Governor of New South Wales – John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar
- Governor of Queensland – Sir George Bowen
- Governor of South Australia – Sir Dominick Daly
- Governor of Tasmania – Colonel Thomas Browne
- Governor of Victoria – Sir Charles Darling
- Governor of Western Australia - Dr John Hampton
Premiers
Premiers of the Australian colonies:- Premier of New South Wales – James Martin
- Premier of Queensland – Robert Herbert
- Premier of South Australia – Henry Ayers until 4 August, then Arthur Blyth
- Premier of Tasmania – James Whyte
- Premier of Victoria – James McCulloch
Arts
- Twofold Bay Waltzes by Georgina Isabella O'Sullivan née Keon
Events
- 1 January – The Queensland Police Force is established and begins operations with approximately 143 employees.
- 4 May – The first trout hatchery in the southern hemisphere is established at Plenty, Tasmania.
- 14 May – Bushranger Frank Gardiner is sentenced to 32 years in prison, although he is later pardoned by Henry Parkes in 1874.
- 20 May – Bushranger Ben Hall and his gang escape from a shootout with police after attempting to rob the Bang Bang Hotel in Koorawatha, New South Wales.
- 2 June – The schooner Waratah disappears between Sydney and Newcastle, claiming seven lives.
- 1 October – The Australasian is first published in Melbourne.
- 1 December – Great Fire of Brisbane
Sport
- 1 January – The All England Eleven cricket team defeats the Victorian XXII at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.Lantern wins the Melbourne Cup.
- Carlton FC was founded
Births
- 17 February – Banjo Paterson, bush poet, journalist and author
- 7 April – Alfred Conroy, New South Wales politician
- 18 April – Rose Summerfield, feminist and labour activist
- 10 July – Sir Austin Chapman, New South Wales politician
- 21 August – David O'Keefe, Tasmanian politician
- 21 December – Sir James McCay, Victorian politician and soldier
- 25 December – Joe Quinn, baseball player
Deaths
- 15 January – Isaac Nathan, composer, musicologist, and journalist
- 6 March – Peter Miller Cunningham, naval surgeon and author
- 25 May – John Joseph Therry, Catholic priest
- 19 June – Richard Heales, 4th Premier of Victoria
- 24 November – Edward Buckley Wynyard, New South Wales politician and military officer