1896 in Australia

Incumbents

Governors of the Australian colonies

• Governor of New South Wales – Henry Brand, 2nd Viscount Hampden
• Governor of Queensland – Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet
• Governor of Tasmania – Jenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston
• Governor of Victoria – Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey
• Governor of Western Australia – Sir Gerard Smith

  Premiers of the Australian colonies

• Premier of New South Wales – George Reid
• Premier of Queensland – Hugh Nelson
• Premier of South Australia – Charles Kingston
• Premier of Tasmania – Edward Braddon
• Premier of Western Australia – John Forrest
• Premier of Victoria – George Turner

  Events

• 13 February - The Capsize of the ferry Pearl on the Brisbane River, killing 28

  Arts and literature

• While the Billy Boils, a collection of short stories, is published by Henry Lawson

  Sport

• 7 to 11 April – Edwin Flack wins gold medals in the 800-metre and 1500 metre events, and bronze in the tennis doubles at the Games of the 1st Olympiad. He was the only Australian competitor at these games.
• 3 October – The Victorian Football League is formed, with competition beginning in 1897.
• 3 November – Newhaven wins the Melbourne Cup.
• New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield

  Births

• 22 January – Norman Gilroy, first Australian-born Cardinal
• 8 February – Alfred Percival Bullen, circus proprietor
• 18 February – John Cramer, politician
• 5 July – Thomas Playford, Premier of South Australia
• 11 July – Evelyn Scotney, coloratura soprano
• 18 July – Jack Mullens, politician
• 3 August – Charles Adermann, politician
• 24 August – Edwin Corboy, politician
• 28 August – Arthur Calwell, politician
• 15 September – Norman Lethbridge Cowper, lawyer
• 29 September – Thomas James Bede Kenny, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
• 21 October – Patrick Gordon Taylor, aviator
• 16 November – Joan Lindsay, author
• 27 November – Arthur Percy Sullivan, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient

  Deaths

• 27 April – Sir Henry Parkes, politician
• 15 September – John Anderson Hartley, educator
• 10 October – Ferdinand von Mueller, botanist