Australian author C.J. Dennis creates the Sentimental Bloke, featuring first in a book of poems and four years later in a film

Australia Felix is the first in Henry Handel Richardson's trilogy of novels about her father

D.H. Lawrence takes a house in Sydney, where he writes the bulk of his novel Kangaroo

In only his third Test match, 20-year-old Australian cricketer Donald Bradman scores a century

An Aerial Medical Service is launched in Queensland, Australia, subsequently becoming the Flying Doctor Service

The New Zealand racehorse Phar Lap wins huge popularity after an easy victory in the Melbourne Cup

One of the defining landmarks of Sydney, in Australia, is opened – the single-span steel arch bridge across the city's harbour

Australian author Christina Stead publishes a first novel based on her own family, Seven Poor Men of Sydney

The Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira wins success with the first exhibition of his watercolours

Robert Menzies, leader of the United Australia Party, becomes Australia's prime minister

Australian author Patrick White publishes his first novel, Happy Valley

Australian prime minister Robert Menzies is forced to resign after losing the confidence of his cabinet

Japanese aircraft attack Australia, bombing Darwin's harbour and air force base

Three Japanese midget submarines penetrate Sydney harbour in Australia

Australian painter Sidney Nolan begins a series of paintings on the theme of Ned Kelly

Australia, aiming for a 2% population increase each year, takes steps to encourage European immigration

Donald Bradman retires from Test cricket with a tantalizing career average of 99.94 runs

Robert Menzies returns as Australia's prime minister, and remains in the post for an unbroken sixteen years

Edna Everage, created by Australian satirist Barry Humphries, makes her first appearance in a Melbourne revue

Australian artist Arthur Boyd begins his series of paintings about an aboriginal stockman, Love, Marriage and Death of a Half-Caste

In Voss Australian author Patrick White creates an epic novel about a disastrous attempt to cross the continent

Australian Grand Prix driver Jack Brabham wins the first of his three Formula One titles

The pamphlet Control or Colour Bar? demands reform of White Australia policy

Australian tennis players Margaret Court and Ken Fletcher achieve the grand slam in mixed doubles

Gurindji people at the Wave Hill station walk out in protest, launching the Aboriginal land rights movement in Australia