Commonwealth Jubilee Year: Chronological Table of Principal Events 1901 to 1950
— 1900 —
Dec. 25—First Federal Ministry formed.
1901
Jan. 1—Proclamation of Commonwealth at Sydney.
Old Age Pensions instituted in
Victoria (passed 1900, came into force Jan. 1, 1901).
May 9—First Federal Parliament opened at Melbourne by Duke of York.
Oct. 8—Interstate Free Trade established.
1902
Oct. 8—First Federal Tariff (Bill assented to Sept. 16th, 1902. Operated from 8/10/01).
Oct. 31—Completion of all-British Pacific Cable. Opening of Pumping Station at Northam (W.A.) for goldfields water supply.
1904
Dec. 15—Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act passed.
1906
Sept. 18—Papua taken over by Commonwealth.
1907
Nov. 8—Declaration of first basic wage in "Harvester" Award.
1909
June 15—Canberra chosen as site of Federal Capital.
Dec. 10—Queensland University founded (Act received Royal Assent).
Dec. 21—Visit of Lord Kitchener to report on defence Uanded in Darwin Dec. 21).
1910
Nov. 1 — First note issues. Commonwealth
1911
Jan. 1 — Transfer of Northern and Capital Territories to the Commonwealth.
Jan. 16—University of Western Australia founded.
April 3—First Federal census.
1913
Jan. 20—Opening of Commonwealth Bank.
Feb. 12—First sod turned for the Transcontinental Railway.
March 12—Canberra named and foundation stone laid.
1914
July 30—Double Dissolution of Federal Parliament.
Aug. 4 — European War declared.
Aug. 6—Australian Navy transferred to British Navy. Australia offers to furnish and equip 20,000 troops.
German possessions in S.W. Pacific seized:
Sept. 13, Rabaul surrender; Sept. 17, Capitulation of German N.G. signed; Nov. 6, A.N. and M.E.F. occupied Nauru: Nov. 4, Admiralty and Western Islands occupied; Dec. 9. German Solomon Islands capitulation.
Nov. 9—German cruiser Emden destroyed by H.M.AJS. Sydney.
Dec, 3—First Contingent lands in Egypt.
Dec. 12 — Anzacs formed under General Birdwood.
1916
Oct. 28 — First referendum on compulsory military training defeated.
1917
Oct. 22—Kalgoorlle-Pt. Augusta railway completed.
1918
Australia's population reaches 5,000,000.
Nov. 11—Armistice with Germany.
1919
Oct 2—Peace Treaty signed at Versailles. Australia ratifies treaty.
Oct. 10—England - to - Australia flight completed by Ross and Keith Smith.
Return of Australian troops.
1920
May 26—Prince of Wales visits Australia.
1921
April 4—Second Commonwealth Census. ,
May 9—First Australian Administration of New Guinea under the mandate issued by the League of Nations Dec. 17.
1923
Aug. 29—First sod turned on site of Parliament House, at Canberra.
1925
Sydney Harbour Bridge commenced.
1926
June 21—Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was established.
The population Australia reaches 6,000,000.
1927
May 9—Parliament House, Canberra, opened by the Duke of York.
Seat of Government transferred from Melbourna-to Canberra.
1931
Jan. 22—First Australian, Sir Isaac Isaacs, sworn in as Governor-General.
1932
Mar. 19—Sydney Harbor Bridge opened.
May 17—Australian Broadcasting Commission established.
1933
April 8 — Secession referendum in Western Australia carried.
June 30—Australia elected to the League of Nations.
1934
Oct, 14—The Duke of Gloucester opens the Victorian Centenary Celebrations.
Oct. 23—Scott and Black fly to Australia from England In 71 hours.
Dec, 8—Inauguration of England-Australia air-mail service
1939
April 7—Death of Rt. Hon. J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister.
Sept. 3—War declared on Germany. Royal Australian Navy placed at the disposal of Britain.
Dec. 15—Advance party of Australians embarked for Midddle East.
1940
The population of Australia reached 7,000,000.
Jan. 10—First Australian convoy (6th Division) sailed for Middle East.
1941
Feb. 8—Units of 8th Division land in Malaya.
April 24-29—The Evacuation of Greece and Crete.
June 8—Syrian campaign commenced. ,
Dec. 9—War declared on Japan.
1942
Feb. 15—Fall of Singapore.
Feb. 19—Darwin bombed.
March 14—United States forces land in Australia.
June 1—Japanese subs sunk in Sydney Harbour.
Aug. 8—Federal Uniform taxation adopted.
1944
Aug. 19—Referendum to give the Commonwealth' increased powers defeated.
1945
Jan. 30 — Duke of Gloucester sworn in as Governor-General
March 24—Captain Cook Dock opened in Sydney.
July 5—Rt. Hon. John Curtin, Prime Minister, dies.
1947
Jan. 31—N.S.W. Premier, Mr. W. J. McKell, appointed Governor - General : Announced on January 31.
Sept. 8—Forty - hour week approved by Arbitration Court.
Nov. 28—First New Australians, from Baltic countries, reached Australia.
1948
Jan. 1—Forty - hour week effective throughout Australia.
1949
Feb. 3—First aliens naturalised under new act.
April 29—Melbourne selected for 1956 Olympic Games.
Oct. 17—Snowy Mountains Hydro - Electric Scheme began : Opening ceremony October 17.
1950
Sept. 27—Australian troops join united Nations force in Korea. Announced July 26, 1950; went into action Sept. 27th.