The following lists events that happened during 1949 in Australia.
Incumbents
Monarch – George VI
Governor-General – William McKell
Prime Minister – Ben Chifley (until 19 December), then Robert Menzies
Chief Justice – Sir John Latham
State Governors
Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
Governor of Queensland – Sir John Lavarack
Governor of South Australia – Sir Charles Norrie
Governor of Tasmania – Sir Hugh Binney
Governor of Victoria – Sir Winston Dugan (until 20 February), then Sir Dallas Brooks (from 18 October) Governor of Western Australia – Sir James Mitchell
Events
26 January – The Nationality and Citizenship Act is passed. Rather than being identified as subjects of Britain, the Act established Australian citizenship for people who met eligibility requirements. 2 March - A cyclone crosses the Central Queensland coast impacting Gladstone and Rockhampton. 10 March – A Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar crashes near Coolangatta, Queensland, killing all 21 on board. 16 March – Australia's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is established, by order of the Directive for the Establishment and Maintenance of a Security Service. 16 March – Indigenous Australians who are eligible to vote in state elections in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are also given the right to vote in federal elections. 27 June – A seven-week coal strike begins, involving 23,000 miners and broken by the sending in of troops. 2 July - A MacRobertson Miller Aviation DC-3 aircraft crashes on take-off from Perth Airport, killing all 18 on board. 17 October – Construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme begins. 10 December – A federal election is held. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Ben Chifley is defeated by Robert Menzies' Liberal Party. 18 December – Prime Minister-elect Robert Menzies announces his cabinet, including Dame Enid Lyons as Australia's first female cabinet minister.
Science and technology
November – Australia's first digital computer, CSIRAC, runs its first test programs.
Arts and literature
21 January – William Dobell wins the Archibald Prize and the Wynne Prize.
Sport
Athletics
17 September - Robert Prentice wins his first men's national marathon title, clocking 2:43:46 in Perth Cricket New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield Football Bledisloe Cup: won by the Wallabies Brisbane Rugby League premiership: Souths defeated Easts 22-8 New South Wales Rugby League premiership: Western Suburbs defeated Balmain 8-5 South Australian National Football League premiership: won by North Adelaide Victorian Football League premiership: Essendon defeated Carlton 125-52 Golf Australian Open: won by Eric Cremin Australian PGA Championship: won by Kel Nagle Horse racing Persist wins the AJC Oaks Lincoln wins the Caulfield Cup Delta wins the Cox Plate Foxzami wins the Melbourne Cup Motor racing The Australian Grand Prix was held at Leyburn, and was won by John Crouch driving a Delahaye Tennis Australian Open men's singles: Frank Sedgman defeats John Bromwich 6-3 6-2 6-2 Australian Open women's singles: Doris Hart defeats Nancye Wynne Bolton 6-3 6-4 Davis Cup: Australia is defeated by the United States 1–4 in the 1949 Davis Cup final US Open: John Bromwich and Bill Sidwell win the Men's Doubles Yachting Waltzing Matilda takes line honours and Trade Winds wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
