1905 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1905 in Australia.

Incumbents

 * Monarch – Edward VII
 * Governor-General – Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson (until 21 January), then Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote
 * Prime Minister – George Reid (until 5 July), then Alfred Deakin
 * Chief Justice – Samuel Griffith

State premiers

 * Premier of New South Wales – Joseph Carruthers
 * Premier of South Australia – John Jenkins (until 1 March), then Richard Butler (until 26 July), then Thomas Price
 * Premier of Queensland – Arthur Morgan
 * Premier of Tasmania – John Evans
 * Premier of Western Australia – Henry Daglish (until 25 August), then Cornthwaite Rason
 * Premier of Victoria – Thomas Bent

State governors

 * Governor of New South Wales – Admiral Sir Harry Rawson
 * Governor of South Australia – Sir George Ruvthen Le Hunt
 * Governor of Queensland – Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford (from 30 November)
 * Governor of Tasmania – Sir Gerald Strickland
 * Governor of Western Australia – Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford
 * Governor of Victoria – Major General Sir Reginald Talbot

Events

 * 1 March – John Jenkins resigns as Premier of South Australia to become Agent-General for South Australia in London. He is replaced by Richard Butler.
 * 12 May – The first meeting of the Australian Council of Defence takes place between the Minister for Defence, the Treasurer, the Inspector-General Army, the Chief of Intelligence, and the Director of the Naval Forces.
 * 18 May – A state election takes place in Queensland, returning the government of Arthur Morgan. Women are able to vote in Queensland state elections for the first time.
 * 24 May – Empire Day is first celebrated in Australia.
 * 28 May – The town of Maryborough in Queensland experiences an outbreak of pneumonic plague.
 * 5 July – Alfred Deakin resumes office as Prime Minister of Australia after George Reid is unable to form a stable ministry.
 * 26 July – A state election is held in South Australia. The Labor Party led by Thomas Price forms a minority government.
 * 6 September – Last sighting of the clipper ship Loch Vennachar which sinks off Kangaroo Island, killing 32 people. Only one body was found.
 * unknown dates
 * Non-aboriginal women are given the vote and admitted to the practice of law in Queensland.
 * Workers' compensation is introduced in Queensland.

Arts and literature

 * Albert J. Hanson wins the Wynne Prize with The Blue Noon

Sport

 * 1 February – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield
 * 15 July – Australia first competes in the Davis Cup, in a combined Australasian team with New Zealand.
 * 30 September – Fitzroy wins the VFL premiership.
 * 7 November – Blue Spec wins the Melbourne Cup.
 * Australia loses cricket series to England 0-2

Births

 * 10 January - Albert Arlen, pianist, composer, actor, and playwright (died 1993)
 * 15 February – Heathcote Howard Hammer, brigadier (died 1961)
 * 1 April – Paul Hasluck (died 1993), Governor General of Australia
 * 1 August – Eddie Gilbert (died 1978), cricketer

Deaths

 * 15 January – George Thorn (born 1838), Premier of Queensland
 * 6 May – Robert Herbert (born 1831), Premier of Queensland
 * 25 June – Augustus Gregory (born 1819), explorer
 * 5 July – Henry Baylis (born 1826), police magistrate
 * 30 October – Boyd Dunlop Morehead (born 1843), Premier of Queensland
 * 29 December – Victor Daley (born 1858), poet