1932 in Australia

List of events

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1932
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Decades:

Incumbents

Unemployment reached a record high of about 32%.^[1]
19 March – The Sydney Harbour Bridge is officially opened by the Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang.^[2]
30 March – The Grey Street Bridge is officially opened in Brisbane by the Governor of Queensland, Sir John Goodwin.^[3]
13 May – The Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang, is dismissed by the Governor, Sir Philip Game.^[4]
14 May – A state election is held in Victoria. The Labor Party, already divided over the Premiers' Plan, is heavily defeated by a United Australia Party–United Country Party coalition.
11 June – A state election in New South Wales, called after the dismissal of Jack Lang as Premier, is held. Lang's Labor Party is heavily defeated, losing 31 seats to the UAP–Country coalition.
1 July – The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) is established
2 November – Start of the Emu War.
23 November – The statue of The Dog on the Tuckerbox is unveiled at Gundagai, New South Wales by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons.
10 December – The Emu War ends in failure.

'The Rivals Waltz' by Bert Rache in Albert's Old Time Dance Album 1932

Ernest Buckmaster wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of Sir William Irvine.
The final issue of Aussie: The Australian Soldiers' Magazine appears.

4 March – Brigadier-General Iven Giffard Mackay is appointed as the Commonwealth Film Appeals Censor, replacing the Censorship Appeals Board.^[6]

12 February – Australia defeats South Africa 5–0 in the cricket test series, played in Australia.^[7]
21 March – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield.^[8]
Bodyline is first introduced into cricket
The Australian Olympic team wins 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles
20 March – Racehorse Phar Lap, in Tijuana, Mexico, wins the Agua Caliente Handicap; across Australia, thousands celebrate after the radio broadcast of the race.
5 April – Racehorse Phar Lap dies midday at ranch in San Francisco, two weeks after winning at Agua Caliente racetrack (2 autopsies find nothing; however, trees had been sprayed with a lead–arsenate insecticide); it is 6 April at 10:30 am in Australia when news spreads.
24 September – The 1932 NSWRFL season culminates in South Sydney's 19–12 victory over Western Suburbs in the premiership final.
1 October – Richmond defeats Carlton 13.14 (92) to 12.11 (83) at the VFL Grand Final to become premiers of the 1932 VFL season.
1 November – Peter Pan wins the Melbourne Cup.^[9]

17 January – Albert Jacka, businessman, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient (b. 1893)
6 February – John Earle, 22nd Premier of Tasmania (b. 1865)
10 April – George Barber, Queensland politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1860)
27 April – Sir Adrian Knox, 2nd Chief Justice of Australia (b. 1863)
9 June – Edith Cowan, Western Australian politician and social reformer (b. 1861)
17 June – Sir John Quick, Victorian politician and lawyer (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1852)
23 June – Francis Kenna, Queensland politician, poet and journalist (b. 1865)
1 July – William Dick, New South Wales politician (b. 1865)
11 July – William Hartnoll, Tasmanian politician (b. 1841)
26 July – Sir William McPherson, 31st Premier of Victoria (b. 1865)
10 October – Sir Bertram Mackennal, sculptor and medalist (died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1863)
4 December – Mona McBurney, composer (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1862)

^ "The Great Depression - Australia's Culture Portal". 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 21 March 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^ "GREY STREET BRIDGE". Queensland Figaro. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 2 April 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^ "THE GOVERNOR MOVES AT LAST. Mr. Lang Dismissed from Office". The Northern Times. Carnarvon, WA: National Library of Australia. 19 May 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^ "SCIENTISTS CONFER". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 18 August 1932. p. 7 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "FILM AUTHORITY". The Border Watch. Mount Gambier, SA: National Library of Australia. 5 March 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "20 WICKETS FALL". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 13 February 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "N.S.W. WINS SHEFFIELD SHIELD". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 23 March 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Peter Pan Winning The 1932 Melbourne Cup". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2012.

Years in Australia (1788–present)

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