The following lists events that happened during 1926 in Australia.

Incumbents

*Monarchy in Australia, Monarch – George V of the United Kingdom, George V *Governor-General of Australia, Governor-General – Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster of Lepe (until 8 October) then John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven *Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister – Stanley Bruce *Chief Justice of Australia, Chief Justice – Adrian Knox

State premiers

*Premier of New South Wales – Jack Lang (Australian politician), Jack Lang *Premier of Queensland – William McCormack *Premier of South Australia – John Gunn (Australian politician), John Gunn (until 28 August), then Lionel Hill *Premier of Tasmania – Joseph Lyons *Premier of Victoria – John Allan (Australian politician), John Allan *Premier of Western Australia – Philip Collier

State governors

*Governor of New South Wales – Dudley de Chair, Sir Dudley de Chair *Governor of Queensland – ''none appointed'' *Governor of South Australia – Tom Bridges, Sir Tom Bridges *Governor of Tasmania – James O'Grady, Sir James O'Grady *Governor of Victoria – George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke (until 7 April), then Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers (from 28 June) *Governor of Western Australia – William Campion (governor), Sir William Campion

Events

*19 April – The High Court of Australia finds in the case of ''Clyde Engineering Co Ltd v Cowburn'' that the Forty-Four Hours Week Act 1925 (NSW) was incompatible with Commonwealth legislation. *3 September – ''The Canberra Times'' is first published. *4 September – A 1926 Australian referendum, federal referendum is held, containing two questions: Australian referendum, 1926 (Industry and Commerce), Industry and Commerce and Australian referendum, 1926 (Essential Services), Essential Services. Neither question is passed. *13 September – Twenty-six people are killed in the Murulla railway accident. * Helen Wayth wins the first Miss Australia, Miss Australia Quest * Ballerina Anna Pavlova tours Australia

Science and technology

*22 June – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is founded, the precursor to today's CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).

Arts and literature

* W B McInnes, William McInnes wins the Archibald Prize

Sport

*18 September – South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Sydney University rugby league team, University 11–5, becoming premiers of the New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1926. *25 September – Melbourne Football Club, Melbourne defeat Collingwood Football Club, Collingwood 17.17 (119) to 9.8 (62) at the AFL Grand Final, VFL grand final, becoming premiers of the 1926 VFL season. *2 November – ''Spearfelt'' wins the Melbourne Cup. * New South Wales wins the Pura Cup, Sheffield Shield

Births

* 7 January – Joe Marston, soccer player (died 2015) * 11 January – Baillieu Myer, businessman and philanthropist (died 2022) * 3 February – Raymond Martin (academic), Raymond Martin, chemist (died 2020) * 4 February – Dave Sands, boxer (died 1952) * 6 February – Bruce Ruxton, former soldier and president of the RSL (died 2011) * 8 February – Tony Street, politician (died 2022) * 10 February – Arvi Parbo, businessman (died 2019) * 16 February – Rayene Stewart Simpson, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient (died 1978) * 6 March – Ray O'Connor, Premier of Western Australia (1982–1983) (died 2013) * 15 March – Thelma Keane, wife of cartoonist Bil Keane and inspiration for the "Mommy" character in ''The Family Circus'' (died 2008) * 2 April – Jack Brabham, racing driver (died 2014) * 13 April – Neil Betts, rugby union player (died 2017) * 11 May – Frank Thring, actor (died 1994) * 18 June – Shirley McKechnie, dancer, choreographer and dance educator (died 2022) * 25 June – Kep Enderby, Esperantist and politician (died 2015) * 27 June – Bruce Tozer, cricketer (died 2021) * 1 July – Stan Obst, Australian rules footballer (died 2005) * 3 July – Laurence Street, jurist and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (died 2018) * 4 July – Stuart Thomas Butler, nuclear physicist (died 1982) * 9 July – Peter Mullins, decathlete (died 2012) * 12 July – Al Grassby, politician, Minister for Immigration (died 2005) * 20 July – Russ Gorman, politician (died 2017) * 31 July – Jack Pollard, sports writer and cricket historian (died 2002) * 5 August – Doug McClelland, politician * 15 August – Ted Allsopp, race walker * 27 August – Reg Watson, television producer and screenwriter (died 2019) * 8 September – Keith Adams (Australia), Keith Adams, adventurer (died 2012) * 16 September – William Cole (public servant), Sir William Cole, public servant (died 2019) * 18 September – Deirdre Jordan, academic and educator * 30 September – Frank O'Neill (swimmer), Frank O'Neill, swimmer * 11 October – Neville Wran, Premier of New South Wales (1976–1986) (died 2014) * 20 October – Peter Durack, politician, Attorney-General (died 2008) * 7 November – Joan Sutherland, opera singer (died 2010) * 15 November – Ivor Greenwood, politician, Attorney-General (died 1976) * 31 December – Billy Snedden, Sir Billy Snedden, politician, Leader of the Liberal Party (died 1987)

Deaths

* 9 January – William Henry Warren, engineer (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1852) * 12 January – Austin Chapman, Sir Austin Chapman, New South Wales politician (b. 1864) * 30 April – Timothy Augustine Coghlan, Sir Tim Coghlan, New South Wales statistician, engineer and diplomat (died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1856) * 11 May – Hugh Dixson, Sir Hugh Dixson, businessman and philanthropist (died in British Ceylon) (b. 1841) * 15 May – Joseph James Fletcher, biologist (born in New Zealand) (b. 1850) * 16 May – Joe Slater (composer), Joe Slater, composer and music publisher (b. 1872) * 21 May – Hugh Victor McKay, industrialist (b. 1865) * 4 June – Fred Spofforth, cricketer (died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1853) * 23 June – Lowther Clarke, Anglican archbishop (born and died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1850) * 28 June – William Archibald (politician), William Archibald, South Australian politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1850) * 14 July – Charles Mackellar, Sir Charles Mackellar, New South Wales politician and surgeon (b. 1844) * 19 July – Ada Cambridge, author (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1844) * 14 September – Charles Hedley, naturalist (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1862) * 3 October – Samuel James Mitchell, 1st List of judges of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, Chief Jusice of the Northern Territory (b. 1852) * 11 December ** William McMillan (Australian politician), Sir William McMillan, New South Wales politician and businessman (born in Ireland) (b. 1850) ** Gottlieb Schuler, journalist (born in German Confederation, Germany) (b. 1853) * 13 December – William Spence, trade union leader and politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1846)

References

{{Oceania topic, 1926 in, countries_only=yes 1926 in Australia, 1926 by country, Australia Years of the 20th century in Australia