1947 in Australia

Incumbents

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

State Premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – William McKell, then James McGirr
• Premier of Queensland – Ned Hanlon
• Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV
• Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove, then Edward Brooker
• Premier of Victoria – John Cain, then Thomas Hollway
• Premier of Western Australia – Frank Wise, then Ross McLarty

State Governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
• Governor of Queensland – 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

• 1 January – A massive hailstorm strikes Sydney, causing hundreds of injuries and an estimated £1 million damage.
• 6 February – William McKell stands down as Premier of New South Wales following royal approval of his appointment as Governor-General. The Labor Party elects James McGirr as its leader and the new Premier.
• 15 March – A state election is held in Western Australia. The Labor government of Frank Wise is defeated by the Liberal/Country coalition led by Ross McLarty.
• 3 May – A state election is held in Queensland. Ned Hanlon's Labor government is returned for its sixth term in government.
• 1 April – The Woomera rocket range is established in South Australia as a testing site for British and Australian missiles.
• 5 May – A train derails in the Camp Mountain rail accident in Queensland, killing 16 people.
• 15–17 June – Major flooding in Tasmania.
• 30 June – The Australian government assumes control of Qantas.
• 1 July – Real estate company L. J. Hooker is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
• 5 August – Australia becomes a member of the International Monetary Fund.
• 30 August – The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration grants workers a 40-hour week.
• 8 November – A state election is held in Victoria, after the upper house blocks supply. The Labor minority government of John Cain is defeated by a Liberal–Country coalition led by Thomas Hollway.
• 18 November – Australia reduces its trade tariffs after ratifying the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in Geneva.
• 18 December – Robert Cosgrove resigns as Premier of Tasmania after being indicted on charges of bribery and corruption. Edward Brooker is sworn in as his replacement the next day.
• 26 December – Heard Island and McDonald Islands in Antarctica are transferred from British control to Australian territories.

Arts and literature

• 17 January – William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of Marcus Clarke.

Sport

• 30 August – Fred Fanning, in his last league match, kicks a VFL/AFL record of eighteen goals against St. Kilda
• 20 September – Balmain win the 1947 NSWRFL season, claiming their tenth title after defeating minor premiers Canterbury-Bankstown 13–9. The newly formed Parramatta team finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon.
• 27 September – Carlton 13.8 defeats Essendon 11.19 85 to win the 51st VFL Premiership in the 1947 VFL Grand Final.
• 4 November – Hiraji wins the Melbourne Cup.
• 30 December – Morna takes line honours and Westward wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
• The Parramatta rugby league club is formed in Sydney's West. The Manly-Warringah club is also formed in the Northern Beaches.

Births

• 10 January
• * David Irvine, diplomat, Director-General of ASIS and ASIO
• * Stevie Wright, English-Australian singer-songwriter
• 29 January – Lorraine Landon, basketball administrator, former player and coach
• 8 February – Kerrie Biddell, singer and pianist
• 8 April – Fay Miller, politician
• 15 May – Graeham Goble, musician
• 19 May – David Helfgott, concert pianist
• 29 May – Stan Zemanek, Australian radio broadcaster
• 3 June – Mike Burgmann, racing driver and accountant
• 19 June – James Mason, field hockey player
• 23 June – Bryan Brown, actor
• 25 June – Robert Percy, Australian rules footballer
• 14 July – John Blackman, radio and television presenter
• 16 July – Don Burke, Television presenter, television producer, author, and horticulturist
• 28 July – Peter Cosgrove, Chief of the Defence Force
• 5 August – Angry Anderson, singer and actor
• 28 August – Jennie George, politician and trade unionist
• 5 September – Bruce Yardley, Test cricketer
• 25 September – Barrie Robran, Australian rules footballer
• 28 September – Bob Carr, Premier of New South Wales ; Senator and Minister for Foreign Affairs
• 2 November – David Ahern, composer
• 4 November – Rod Marsh, cricketer
• 28 December
• * Dick Diamonde, bass guitarist
• * Andrew Olle, television and radio broadcaster

Deaths

• 16 January – Traugott Bernhard Zwar, academic, army medical officer and surgeon
• 27 February – Charles Hoadley, geologist
• 26 April – Hector Lamond, New South Wales politician
• 27 April
• * Robert Barr, Victorian politician
• * Roland Green, New South Wales politician
• 9 May – Hugh de Largie, Western Australian politician
• 16 May – William McCormack, 22nd Premier of Queensland
• 25 May – Rupert Bunny, painter
• 28 May – Walter Duncan, New South Wales politician
• 1 July – E. Harold Davies, musician, conductor and teacher
• 30 July – Sir Joseph Cook, 6th Prime Minister of Australia
• 28 August – Matthew Reid, Queensland politician
• 14 September – John Feetham, Anglican bishop
• 26 October – Jack Bailey, New South Wales politician
• 19 December – Arthur Wilson, Australian rules footballer, gynaecologist and obstetrician