1870 in Australia

"See also:"
1869 in Australia,
other events of 1870,
1871 in Australia and the
Timeline of Australian history.

Incumbents

Governors

Governors of the Australian colonies:
*Governor of New South Wales - Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore
*Governor of Queensland - Colonel Sir Samuel Blackall
*Governor of South Australia - Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet
*Governor of Tasmania - Charles Du Cane
*Governor of Victoria - John Manners-Sutton, 3rd Viscount Canterbury
*Governor of Western Australia - "(office first formed in 1890)"

Premiers

Premiers of the Australian colonies:
*Premier of New South Wales - John Robertson, until 13 January then Charles Cowper, until 16 December then James Martin
*Premier of Queensland - Charles Lilley, until 3 May then Arthur Hunter Palmer
*Premier of South Australia - Henry Strangways, until 30 May then John Hart
*Premier of Tasmania - James Milne Wilson
*Premier of Victoria - John Alexander MacPherson, until 9 April then James McCulloch
*Premier of Western Australia - "office first formed in 1890"

Events

* January 3 - A state flag of Western Australia is adopted.
* February 1 - A state flag of Victoria is adopted, although with no crown like the current flag.
* March 22 - A state flag of Queensland is adopted, with a portrait of Queen Victoria.
* April 20 - A second state flag of New South Wales is adopted, similar to the current flag of Victoria: a crown above the Southern Cross.
* July 22 - A state flag of South Australia is adopted.
* August 11 - Melbourne Town Hall is opened.

Unknown dates

* All British Army troops are withdrawn from Australia, leaving each colony responsible for its own land defence.

Exploration and Settlement

* March 17 - Explorer John Ross discovers Alice Springs.
* April 14 - Gold is discovered in Gulgong, New South Wales, sparking a major gold rush in the area.
* August 27 - John Forrest successfully arrives in Adelaide from Perth, leading an expedition along the south coast via the Great Australian Bight.

cience and Technology

* September 15 - Work begins on the Australian Overland Telegraph Line linking Port Augusta to Darwin.

port

* "Nimblefoot" wins the Melbourne Cup
* May 13 - Port Adelaide Football Club is founded in South Australia

Births

* January 3 - Ethel Richardson (d. 1946), author, better known by her "nom de plume" Henry Handel Richardson
* May 17 - Newton Moore (d. 1936), Premier of Western Australia
* November 1 - Christopher Brennan (d. 1932), poet
* December 16 - Alfred Hill (d. 1960), composer

Deaths

* May 25 - Captain Thunderbolt (real name Fred Ward, b. 1836), bushranger
* June 24 - Adam Lindsay Gordon (b. 1833), poet

ee also

*1870
*1870s