Herbert Henry "Bert" ThomasAge: 681877–1945
- Name
- Herbert Henry "Bert" Thomas
- Given names
- Herbert Henry
- Nickname
- Bert
- Surname
- Thomas
| Birth | 1877 Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia |
| Birth of a brother | 1878 (Age 12 months) Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
William Ernest Thomas
|
| Death of a maternal grandfather | 15 December 1878 (Age 23 months) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
maternal grandfather -
John Carr
|
| Death of a maternal grandfather | 15 December 1878 (Age 23 months) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
maternal grandfather -
John Carr
|
| Australian History | 1878 (Age 12 months) Note: First horse-drawn trams in Australia commenced operations in Adelaide. |
| Birth of a sister | 1879 (Age 2) Victoria, Australia
younger sister -
Mabel Eloise "May" Thomas
|
| Australian History | 1879 (Age 2) Note: The first congress of trade unions is held. |
| Australian History | 1880 (Age 3) Note: The bushranger Ned Kelly is hanged. Note: Parliamentarians in Victoria become the first in Australia to be paid for their work. |
| Birth of a sister | 1881 (Age 4) Victoria, Australia
younger sister -
Florence Margaret "Pearl" Thomas
|
| Death of a maternal grandmother | 20 August 1882 (Age 5) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
maternal grandmother -
Mary Jagger
|
| Death of a maternal grandmother | 20 August 1882 (Age 5) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
maternal grandmother -
Mary Jagger
|
| Australian History | 1882 (Age 5) Note: First water-borne sewerage service in Australia commenced operations in Adelaide. |
| Marriage of parents | View family 13 November 1883 (Age 6) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
father -
Oliver Henry "O. H." Potts
mother -
Elizabeth "Betty" Carr
|
| Australian History | 1883 (Age 6) Note: The opening of the Sydney-Melbourne railway Note: Silver is discovered at Broken Hill |
| Death of a paternal grandmother | 3 February 1884 (Age 7) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
paternal grandmother -
Mary Ann Toomath
|
| Birth of a sister | 8 June 1884 (Age 7) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
younger sister -
Elizabeth Violet Potts
|
| Adoption | 1885 (Age 8) |
| Death of a father | after 1885 (Age 8)
father -
James Trembath Thomas
|
| Death of a mother | after 1885 (Age 8)
mother -
Mary Carr
|
| Birth of a brother | 15 July 1886 (Age 9) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Oliver Henry "Olly" Potts Jr.
|
| Australian History | 1887 (Age 10) Note: An Australian cricket team is established, defeating England in the first Ashes series. First direct Inter-colonial passenger trains begin running between Adelaide and Melbourne. |
| Birth of a brother | 7 April 1888 (Age 11) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
John Carr Potts
|
| Australian History | 1889 (Age 12) Note: The completion of the railway network between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Note: Sir Henry Parkes delivers the Tenterfield Oration. |
| Birth of a brother | 17 January 1890 (Age 13) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
James Abraham Garfield "Jim" Potts
|
| Australian History | 1890 (Age 13) Note: The Australian Federation Conference calls a constitutional convention. |
| Death of a paternal grandfather | 6 July 1891 (Age 14) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
paternal grandfather -
John Henry Potts
|
| Birth of a brother | 26 October 1891 (Age 14) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
William Robert "Bill" Potts
|
| Australian History | 1891 (Age 14) Note: A National Australasian Convention meets, agrees on adopting the name 'the Commonwealth of Australia' and drafting a constitution. Note: The first attempt at a federal constitution is drafted. Note: The Convention adopts the constitution, although it has no legal status Note: A severe depression hits Australia |
| Australian History | 1892 (Age 15) Note: Gold is discovered at Coolgardie, Western Australia. |
| Birth of a brother | 27 May 1893 (Age 16) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Jabez Jagger "Jay" Potts M.B.E. J.P.
|
| Residence | September 1893 (Age 16) Healesville, Victoria, Australia Note: According to JJ Potts this is the date the family moved from Frankston to Healesville. |
| Australian History | 1893 (Age 16) Note: The Corowa Conference (the 'people's convention') calls on the colonial parliaments to pass enabling acts, allowing the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention aimed at drafting a proposal and putting it to a referendum in each colony. |
| Australian History | 1894 (Age 17) Note: South Australia becomes the first Australian colony, and the second place in the world, to grant women the right to vote, as well the first Parliament in the world to allow women to stand for office. |
| Australian History | 1895 (Age 18) Note: The premiers, except for those of Queensland and Western Australia, agree to implement the Corowa proposals. Note: Waltzing Matilda is first sung in public, in Winton, Queensland Note: Banjo Paterson publishes The Man from Snowy River |
| Birth of a brother | 21 June 1896 (Age 19) Healesville, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Charles Ernest Herbert "Charlie" Potts B.A.
|
| Australian History | 1896 (Age 19) Note: The Bathurst Conference (the second 'people's convention') meets to discuss the 1891 draft constitution |
| Australian History | 1897 (Age 20) Note: In two sessions, the Second National Australasian Convention meets (with representatives from all colonies except Queensland present). They agree to adopt a constitution based on the 1891 draft, and then revise and amend it later that year. Note: Catherine Helen Spence became the first female political candidate for political office, standing for election as a representative for South Australia. |
| Birth of a sister | 12 February 1898 (Age 21) Healesville, Victoria, Australia
younger sister -
Sarah Elizabeth Annie "Betty" Potts
|
| Australian History | 1898 (Age 21) Note: The Convention agrees on a final draft to be put to the people. Note: After much public debate, the Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian referendums are successful; the New South Wales referendum narrowly fails. Later New South Wales votes 'yes' in a second referendum, and Queensland and Western Australia also vote to join. |
| Birth of a brother | 4 July 1899 (Age 22) Healesville, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Harold George Wilson Potts
|
| Australian History | 1899 (Age 22) Note: The decision is made to site the national capital in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney. Note: The Australian Labor Party holds office for a few days in Queensland, becoming the first trade union party to do so anywhere in the world. Note: The first contingents from various Australian colonies are sent to South Africa to participate in the Second Boer War. |
| Australian History | 1900 (Age 23) Note: Several delegates visit London to resist proposed changes to the agreed-upon constitution. Note: The constitution is passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom as a schedule to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, and is given royal assent |
| Australian History | 1901 (Age 24) Note: (01 Jan) Australia becomes a federation on 1 January. Edmund Barton becomes Prime Minister; the 7th Earl of Hopetoun becomes Governor-General Note: The first parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne Note: Immigration Restriction act was introduced- The White Australian Policy Note: The Australian National Flag was flown for the first time |
| Australian History | 1902 (Age 25) Note: The Franchise Act guarantees women the right to vote in federal elections (by this stage, most states had already done this). However, it excludes most non-European ethnic groups, including Aboriginal people, unless already registered to vote on State roles. Note: King Edward VII approved the design of the Australian flag. Note: Breaker Morant is executed for having shot Boers who had surrendered |
| Occupation | Shop-hand 1903 (Age 26) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
| Australian History | 1903 (Age 26) Note: The High Court of Australia is established with Samuel Griffith as the first Chief Justice. Note: The Defence Act gives the federal government full control over the Australian Army Note: Alfred Deakin elected Prime Minister |
| Australian History | 1904 (Age 27) Note: A site at Dalgety, New South Wales chosen for the new national capital Note: Chris Watson forms the first federal Labor (minority) government |
| Birth of a brother | 8 October 1905 (Age 28) Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
John Walter Thomas Potts
|
| Death of a sister | 8 October 1905 (Age 28) Victoria, Australia
younger sister -
Mabel Eloise "May" Thomas
|
| Adoption of a brother | 8 October 1905 (Age 28)
younger brother -
John Walter Thomas Potts
|
| Australian History | 1906 (Age 29) Note: Australia takes control of south-eastern New Guinea |
| Marriage of a brother | Arthur James Trembath Thomas - View family 14 September 1908 (Age 31)
elder brother -
Arthur James Trembath Thomas
sister-in-law -
Elsie Constance Hague
|
| Australian History | 1908 (Age 31) Note: Dorothea Mackellar publishes My Country Note: The Dalgety proposal for the national capital is revoked, and Canberra is chosen instead |
| Occupation | Storeman 1909 (Age 32) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
| Australian History | 1909 (Age 32) Note: The first powered aeroplane flight in Australia is made. |
| Australian History | 1910 (Age 33) Note: Andrew Fisher forms the first federal majority Labor government. |
| Australian History | 1911 (Age 34) Note: The Royal Australian Navy is founded Note: The Northern Territory comes under Commonwealth control, being split off from South Australia Note: The first national census is conducted. Note: Australian Capital Territory proclaimed. |
| Australian History | 1912 (Age 35) Note: Australia sends women to the Olympic Games for the first time Note: Walter Burley Griffin wins a design competition for the new city of Canberra |
| Australian History | 1913 (Age 36) Note: Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth cross the Blue Mountains. Note: Matthew Flinders refers to New South Wales by the name 'Australia'. |
| Australian History | 1913 (Age 36) Note: The foundation stone for the city of Canberra is put in place |
| Occupation | Storeman 1914 (Age 37) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
| Australian History | 1914 (Age 37) Note: Australian soldiers are sent to the First World War. This was first time Australians had fought under the Australian flag, as opposed to that of Britain's. |
| Marriage of a brother | James Abraham Garfield "Jim" Potts - View family 17 July 1915 (Age 38) Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
James Abraham Garfield "Jim" Potts
sister-in-law -
Evelyn Maude Langley
|
| Marriage of a sister | Elizabeth Violet Potts - View family 27 November 1915 (Age 38) Healesville, Victoria, Australia
brother-in-law -
Leslie Roy Langmead
younger sister -
Elizabeth Violet Potts
|
| Australian History | 1915 (Age 38) Note: (25 APRIL)Australian soldiers land at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April. Note: Jervis Bay Territory comprising 6,677 hectares surrendered and becomes part of the Australia Capital Territory. Note: Surfing is first introduced to Australia Note: Billy Hughes became Prime Minister |
| Marriage of a brother | Jabez Jagger "Jay" Potts M.B.E. J.P. - View family 11 September 1916 (Age 39) Mordialloc, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Jabez Jagger "Jay" Potts M.B.E. J.P.
sister-in-law -
Ruby Caroline Miller
|
| Australian History | 1916 (Age 39) Note: Hotels are forced to close at 6 p.m., leading to the beginning of the 'six o'clock swill' Note: Australia suffers heavy casualties in the Western Front Battle of the Somme. Note: The Returned Sailors� and Soldiers� Imperial League of Australia, the forerunner to the Returned and Services League of Australia is founded Note: The Labor government under Billy Hughes splits over conscription. First referendum on conscription is rejected |
| Marriage of a brother | Charles Ernest Herbert "Charlie" Potts B.A. - View family 15 September 1917 (Age 40) Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Charles Ernest Herbert "Charlie" Potts B.A.
sister-in-law -
Beryl Mayo Watson
|
| Australian History | 1917 (Age 40) Note: Second referendum on conscription is rejected. Transcontinental railway linking Adelaide to Perth is completed. Note: Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade launches last cavalry charge in modern warfare to capture Beersheba from the Ottoman Turks. |
| Australian History | 1918 (Age 41) Note: (08 AUG) Battle of Amiens Note: Australian troops spearhead 8 August offensive against Hindenberg Line - the 'black day of the German Army'. Note: On 12 August, Australian commander General Sir John Monash is knighted in the field of battle by King George V Note: First World War ends - 60,000 Australians dead. Note: The Darwin Rebellion takes place, with 1,000 demonstrators demanding the resignation of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, John A. Gilruth. |
| Australian History | 1919 (Age 42) Note: Prime Minister Billy Hughes signs Treaty of Versailles: the first signing of an international treaty by Australia. Australia obtains League of Nations mandate over German New Guinea. |
| Australian History | 1920 (Age 43) Note: The airline Qantas is founded |
| Australian History | 1921 (Age 44) Note: Edith Cowan becomes the first woman elected to an Australian parliament |
| Australian History | 1922 (Age 45) Note: The Smith Family charity is founded in Sydney |
| Australian History | 1923 (Age 46) Note: Vegemite is first produced |
| Occupation | Boarding House Keeper 1924 (Age 47) Healesville, Victoria, Australia Address: "The Glen" |
| Marriage of a brother | James Abraham Garfield "Jim" Potts - View family 2 November 1926 (Age 49) Sea Lake, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
James Abraham Garfield "Jim" Potts
sister-in-law -
Violet Marquerite Kirk
|
| Australian History | 1926 (Age 49) Note: The first Miss Australia contest is held |
| Marriage of a brother | Harold George Wilson Potts - View family 8 December 1927 (Age 50) Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
younger brother -
Harold George Wilson Potts
sister-in-law -
Emma Haines Sedgman
|
| Australian History | 1927 (Age 50) Note: The tenth parliament is formally opened in Canberra, finalising the move to the new capital |
| Death of a sister | 15 March 1928 (Age 51) Healesville, Victoria, Australia
younger sister -
Sarah Elizabeth Annie "Betty" Potts
|
| Australian History | 1928 (Age 51) Note: Bert Hinkler makes the first successful flight from Britain to Australia, and Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first flight from the United States to Australia. The Shrine of Remembrance is built. |
| Australian History | 1929 (Age 52) Note: Western Australia celebrates its centenary Note: Labor returns to office under James Scullin. The Great Depression hits Australia. |
| Australian History | 1930 (Age 53) Note: Batsman Don Bradman scores a record 452 not out in one cricket innings Note: Phar Lap wins his first Melbourne Cup |
| Australian History | 1931 (Age 54) Note: Sir Douglas Mawson charts 4,000 miles of Antarctic coastline and claims 42% of the icy mass for Australia |
| Australian History | 1932 (Age 55) Note: The Sydney Harbour Bridge opens Note: The Labor government falls and Joseph Lyons becomes Prime Minister |
| Death of a mother | 20 May 1933 (Age 56) Healesville, Victoria, Australia
mother -
Elizabeth "Betty" Carr
|
| Australian History | 1933 (Age 56) Note: Western Australia votes at a rerefendum to secede from the Commonwealth, but the vote is ignored by both the Commonwealth and British governments |
| Occupation | Guest House 1936 (Age 59) Healesville, Victoria, Australia Address: "The Glen" |
| Australian History | 1936 (Age 59) Note: The last Thylacine dies |
| Australian History | 1937 (Age 60) Note: The radio series Dad and Dave begins |
| Australian History | 1938 (Age 61) Note: Sydney hosts the Empire Games, the forerunner to the Commonwealth Games |
| Australian History | 1939 (Age 62) Note: (April) Prime Minister Lyons dies in office and is replaced by Robert Menzies and the first Menzies Government Note: (September) Australia enters the Second World War following the German Invasion of Poland. The 2nd Australian Imperial Force is raised. Note: The first flight is made by an Australian-made warplane, the Wirraway Note: Victoria is devastated by the Black Friday bushfires |
| Australian History | 1940 (Age 63) Note: A team of scientists, under Howard Florey, develops penicillin Note: Fascist Italy enters war, Royal Australian Navy engages Italian Navy in the early stages of the Battle of the Mediterranean. |
| Australian History | 1941 (Age 64) Note: 3 Divisions of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force join operations in the Mediterranean. After initial successes against Italy, 2nd AIF suffered defeat against the Germans in Greece, Crete, and North Africa. Note: Apr-Aug, Australian garrison (Rats of Tobruk) halt advance of Hitler's panzers for the first time during the Siege of Tobruk. Note: Menzies resigns and John Curtin becomes Prime Minister in the Curtin Government of 1941-45. |
| Australian History | 1942 (Age 65) Note: Feb, Fall of Singapore. 15,000 Australians become Prisoners of War of the Japanese Note: 1942-43 - Japanese air raids - almost 100 attacks against sites in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. Note: The Royal Australian Navy and 6th and 7th Divisions of 2nd AIF are recalled from Mediterranean Theatre to participate in the anticipated Battle of Australia. Note: 1942-3 - Sparrow Force engages in guerilla campaign in Battle of Timor Note: Battle of the Coral Sea - United States and Royal Australian Navy halt advance of the Japanese towards Port Moresby (Australian Territory of Papua) Note: Battle of Kokoda Trail - Australian soldiers halt Japanese march on Port Moresby Note: Aug-Sep, Australian forces inflict the first defeat on the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle of Milne Bay. Note: Jul-Nov, Australia's 9th Division plays crucial role in the First and Second Battle of El Alamein, which turned the North Africa Campaign in favour of the Allies. Note: National daylight saving is introduced as a war time measure. Note: The UK Statute of Westminster is formally adopted by Australia. The Statute formally grants Australia the right to pass laws that conflict with UK laws. |
| Occupation | Gardener 1943 (Age 66) |
| Residence | 1943 (Age 66) 18 Milliara Grove, Brighton East, Victoria, Australia |
| Australian History | 1943 (Age 66) Note: Australia wins its first Oscar, with cinematographer Damien Parer honoured for Kokoda Front Line! documentary. Note: 2,815 Australian Pows die constructing Japan's Burma-Thailand Railway Note: 1943-44 - Australian forces engage Japan in New Guinea, Wau, and the Huon peninsula. |
| Australian History | 1944 (Age 67) Note: Cowra breakout, mass escape of Japanese prisoners of war occurs in NSW. Note: Japanese inflict Sandakan Death March on 2,000 Australian and British prisoners of war - only 6 survive. The single worst war crime perpetrated against Australians. Note: Australian forces battle Japanese garrisons from Borneo to Bougainville. Note: The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is introduced, providing subsidised medicine to all Australians |
| Australian History | 1945 (Age 68) Note: the Liberal Party of Australia is established with Robert Menzies as its first leader. Note: Australian forces lead Battle of Borneo Note: (7 May) Nazi Germany surrenders Note: (July) Prime Minister Curtin dies and is replaced by Ben Chifley and the Chifley Labor Government Note: (1 August) Japan Surrenders Note: Australia becomes a founding member of the United Nations Note: The Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race is held for the first time |
| Death | 4 February 1945 (Age 68) Brighton East, Victoria, Australia Address: 18 Milliara Grove The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) (about) Monday 5 February 1945 Page 2 |
| Family with parents - View family |
| father |
James Trembath Thomas
Birth about 1847 Penwith, Cornwall, England Death after 1885 (Age 38) |
|
-10 months mother |
Mary Carr
Birth March 1846 31 29 Manchester, England Death after 1885 (Age 38) |
|
Marriage: 12 March 1873 — Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia |
|
|
2 years #1 elder brother |
Birth 8 July 1875 28 29 Booth Street, Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia Death 1948 (Age 72) Prahran, Victoria, Australia |
|
18 months #2 himself |
Herbert Henry "Bert" Thomas
Birth 1877 Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia Death 4 February 1945 (Age 68) Brighton East, Victoria, Australia |
|
1 year #3 younger brother |
William Ernest Thomas
Birth 1878 31 31 Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia Death yes |
|
1 year #4 younger sister |
Mabel Eloise "May" Thomas
Birth 1879 32 32 Victoria, Australia Death 8 October 1905 (Age 26) Victoria, Australia |
|
2 years #5 younger sister |
Florence Margaret "Pearl" Thomas
Birth 1881 Victoria, Australia Death yes |
| #6 brother |
Andrew Thomas
Death yes |
| Family with foster parents - View family |
| father |
Birth 26 January 1862 37 27 Yackandandah, Victoria, Australia Death 10 August 1948 (Age 86) Box Hill, Victoria, Australia |
|
-4 years mother |
Birth 12 April 1858 43 41 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 20 May 1933 (Age 75) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
|
Marriage: 13 November 1883 — Frankston, Victoria, Australia |
|
|
-7 years #1 himself |
Herbert Henry "Bert" Thomas
Birth 1877 Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia Death 4 February 1945 (Age 68) Brighton East, Victoria, Australia |
|
4 years #2 younger sister |
Florence Margaret "Pearl" Thomas
Birth 1881 Victoria, Australia Death yes |
|
3 years #3 younger sister |
Birth 8 June 1884 22 26 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 5 May 1960 (Age 75) Surry Hills, Victoria, Australia |
|
2 years #4 younger brother |
Birth 15 July 1886 24 28 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 1969 (Age 82) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
|
21 months #5 younger brother |
Birth 7 April 1888 26 29 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 23 September 1954 (Age 66) |
|
21 months #6 younger brother |
Birth 17 January 1890 27 31 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 26 January 1959 (Age 69) Auburn, Victoria, Australia |
|
21 months #7 younger brother |
Birth 26 October 1891 29 33 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 16 February 1960 (Age 68) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
|
19 months #8 younger brother |
Birth 27 May 1893 31 35 Frankston, Victoria, Australia Death 27 May 1974 (Age 81) |
|
3 years #9 younger brother |
Birth 21 June 1896 34 38 Healesville, Victoria, Australia Death 21 August 1957 (Age 61) Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia |
|
20 months #10 younger sister |
Birth 12 February 1898 36 39 Healesville, Victoria, Australia Death 15 March 1928 (Age 30) Healesville, Victoria, Australia |
|
17 months #11 younger brother |
Birth 4 July 1899 37 41 Healesville, Victoria, Australia Death 4 August 1995 (Age 96) |
|
6 years #12 younger brother |
|
| Family with Nellie Mattei - View family |
| himself |
Herbert Henry "Bert" Thomas
Birth 1877 Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia Death 4 February 1945 (Age 68) Brighton East, Victoria, Australia |
| wife |
Nellie Mattei
Death yes |
| #1 son |
Vivian Thomas
Death yes |
| #2 daughter |
Herbert Henry "Bert" Thomas has 15 first cousins recorded
Father's family (0)
Mother's family (15)
Parents John Carr + Jane Irvine
Parents Oliver Henry "O. H." Potts + Elizabeth "Betty" Carr
Parents Private + Mabel Eloise "May" Thomas
| Australian History | First horse-drawn trams in Australia commenced operations in Adelaide. |
| Australian History | The first congress of trade unions is held. |
| Australian History | The bushranger Ned Kelly is hanged. |
| Australian History | First water-borne sewerage service in Australia commenced operations in Adelaide. |
| Australian History | The opening of the Sydney-Melbourne railway |
| Australian History | An Australian cricket team is established, defeating England in the first Ashes series. First direct Inter-colonial passenger trains begin running between Adelaide and Melbourne. |
| Australian History | The completion of the railway network between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. |
| Australian History | The Australian Federation Conference calls a constitutional convention. |
| Australian History | A National Australasian Convention meets, agrees on adopting the name 'the Commonwealth of Australia' and drafting a constitution. |
| Australian History | Gold is discovered at Coolgardie, Western Australia. |
| Residence | According to JJ Potts this is the date the family moved from Frankston to Healesville. |
| Australian History | The Corowa Conference (the 'people's convention') calls on the colonial parliaments to pass enabling acts, allowing the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention aimed at drafting a proposal and putting it to a referendum in each colony. |
| Australian History | South Australia becomes the first Australian colony, and the second place in the world, to grant women the right to vote, as well the first Parliament in the world to allow women to stand for office. |
| Australian History | The premiers, except for those of Queensland and Western Australia, agree to implement the Corowa proposals. |
| Australian History | The Bathurst Conference (the second 'people's convention') meets to discuss the 1891 draft constitution |
| Australian History | In two sessions, the Second National Australasian Convention meets (with representatives from all colonies except Queensland present). They agree to adopt a constitution based on the 1891 draft, and then revise and amend it later that year. |
| Australian History | The Convention agrees on a final draft to be put to the people. |
| Australian History | The decision is made to site the national capital in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney. |
| Australian History | Several delegates visit London to resist proposed changes to the agreed-upon constitution. |
| Australian History | (01 Jan) Australia becomes a federation on 1 January. Edmund Barton becomes Prime Minister; the 7th Earl of Hopetoun becomes Governor-General |
| Australian History | The Franchise Act guarantees women the right to vote in federal elections (by this stage, most states had already done this). However, it excludes most non-European ethnic groups, including Aboriginal people, unless already registered to vote on State roles. |
| Australian History | The High Court of Australia is established with Samuel Griffith as the first Chief Justice. |
| Australian History | A site at Dalgety, New South Wales chosen for the new national capital |
| Australian History | Australia takes control of south-eastern New Guinea |
| Australian History | Dorothea Mackellar publishes My Country |
| Australian History | The first powered aeroplane flight in Australia is made. |
| Australian History | Andrew Fisher forms the first federal majority Labor government. |
| Australian History | The Royal Australian Navy is founded |
| Australian History | Australia sends women to the Olympic Games for the first time |
| Australian History | Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth cross the Blue Mountains. |
| Australian History | The foundation stone for the city of Canberra is put in place |
| Australian History | Australian soldiers are sent to the First World War. This was first time Australians had fought under the Australian flag, as opposed to that of Britain's. |
| Australian History | (25 APRIL)Australian soldiers land at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April. |
| Australian History | Hotels are forced to close at 6 p.m., leading to the beginning of the 'six o'clock swill' |
| Australian History | Second referendum on conscription is rejected. Transcontinental railway linking Adelaide to Perth is completed. |
| Australian History | (08 AUG) Battle of Amiens |
| Australian History | Prime Minister Billy Hughes signs Treaty of Versailles: the first signing of an international treaty by Australia. Australia obtains League of Nations mandate over German New Guinea. |
| Australian History | The airline Qantas is founded |
| Australian History | Edith Cowan becomes the first woman elected to an Australian parliament |
| Australian History | The Smith Family charity is founded in Sydney |
| Australian History | Vegemite is first produced |
| Australian History | The first Miss Australia contest is held |
| Australian History | The tenth parliament is formally opened in Canberra, finalising the move to the new capital |
| Australian History | Bert Hinkler makes the first successful flight from Britain to Australia, and Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first flight from the United States to Australia. The Shrine of Remembrance is built. |
| Australian History | Western Australia celebrates its centenary |
| Australian History | Batsman Don Bradman scores a record 452 not out in one cricket innings |
| Australian History | Sir Douglas Mawson charts 4,000 miles of Antarctic coastline and claims 42% of the icy mass for Australia |
| Australian History | The Sydney Harbour Bridge opens |
| Australian History | Western Australia votes at a rerefendum to secede from the Commonwealth, but the vote is ignored by both the Commonwealth and British governments |
| Australian History | The last Thylacine dies |
| Australian History | The radio series Dad and Dave begins |
| Australian History | Sydney hosts the Empire Games, the forerunner to the Commonwealth Games |
| Australian History | (April) Prime Minister Lyons dies in office and is replaced by Robert Menzies and the first Menzies Government |
| Australian History | A team of scientists, under Howard Florey, develops penicillin |
| Australian History | 3 Divisions of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force join operations in the Mediterranean. After initial successes against Italy, 2nd AIF suffered defeat against the Germans in Greece, Crete, and North Africa. |
| Australian History | Feb, Fall of Singapore. 15,000 Australians become Prisoners of War of the Japanese |
| Australian History | Australia wins its first Oscar, with cinematographer Damien Parer honoured for Kokoda Front Line! documentary. |
| Australian History | Cowra breakout, mass escape of Japanese prisoners of war occurs in NSW. |
| Australian History | the Liberal Party of Australia is established with Robert Menzies as its first leader. |
| Documents |