1932 in Australia

Decades:	1910s; 1920s; 1930s; 1940s; 1950s;
See also:	Other events of 1932; ; Timeline of Australian history;

The following lists events that happened during 1932 in Australia.

Incumbents

Unemployment reached a record high of about 32%.^[1]
19 March – The Sydney Harbour Bridge is officially opened by the Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang.^[2]
30 March – The Grey Street Bridge is officially opened in Brisbane by the Governor of Queensland, Sir John Goodwin.^[3]
13 May – The Premier of New South Wales, Jack Lang, is dismissed by the Governor, Sir Philip Game.^[4]
14 May – A state election is held in Victoria. The Labor Party, already divided over the Premiers' Plan, is heavily defeated by a United Australia Party–United Country Party coalition.
11 June – A state election in New South Wales, called after the dismissal of Jack Lang as Premier, is held. Lang's Labor Party is heavily defeated, losing 31 seats to the UAP–Country coalition.
1 July – The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) is established
2 November – Start of the Emu War.
23 November – The statue of The Dog on the Tuckerbox is unveiled at Gundagai, New South Wales by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons.
10 December – The Emu War ends in failure.

'The Rivals Waltz' by Bert Rache in Albert's Old Time Dance Album 1932

4 March – Brigadier-General Iven Giffard Mackay is appointed as the Commonwealth Film Appeals Censor, replacing the Censorship Appeals Board.^[6]

12 February – Australia defeats South Africa 5–0 in the cricket test series, played in Australia.^[7]
21 March – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield.^[8]
Bodyline is first introduced into cricket
The Australian Olympic team wins 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles
20 March – Racehorse Phar Lap, in Tijuana, Mexico, wins the Agua Caliente Handicap; across Australia, thousands celebrate after the radio broadcast of the race.
5 April – Racehorse Phar Lap dies midday at ranch in San Francisco, two weeks after winning at Agua Caliente racetrack (2 autopsies find nothing; however, trees had been sprayed with a lead–arsenate insecticide); it is 6 April at 10:30 am in Australia when news spreads.
24 September – The 1932 NSWRFL season culminates in South Sydney's 19–12 victory over Western Suburbs in the premiership final.
1 October – Richmond defeats Carlton 13.14 (92) to 12.11 (83) at the VFL Grand Final to become premiers of the 1932 VFL season.
1 November – Peter Pan wins the Melbourne Cup.^[9]

17 January – Albert Jacka, businessman, soldier and Victoria Cross recipient (b. 1893)
6 February – John Earle, 22nd Premier of Tasmania (b. 1865)
10 April – George Barber, Queensland politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1860)
27 April – Sir Adrian Knox, 2nd Chief Justice of Australia (b. 1863)
9 June – Edith Cowan, Western Australian politician and social reformer (b. 1861)
17 June – Sir John Quick, Victorian politician and lawyer (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1852)
23 June – Francis Kenna, Queensland politician, poet and journalist (b. 1865)
1 July – William Dick, New South Wales politician (b. 1865)
11 July – William Hartnoll, Tasmanian politician (b. 1841)
26 July – Sir William McPherson, 31st Premier of Victoria (b. 1865)
10 October – Sir Bertram Mackennal, sculptor and medalist (died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1863)
4 December – Mona McBurney, composer (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1862)

^ "The Great Depression - Australia's Culture Portal". 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 21 March 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^ "GREY STREET BRIDGE". Queensland Figaro. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 2 April 1932. p. 12. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^ "THE GOVERNOR MOVES AT LAST. Mr. Lang Dismissed from Office". The Northern Times. Carnarvon, WA: National Library of Australia. 19 May 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
^ "SCIENTISTS CONFER". The Examiner. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 18 August 1932. p. 7 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "FILM AUTHORITY". The Border Watch. Mount Gambier, SA: National Library of Australia. 5 March 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "20 WICKETS FALL". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 13 February 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "N.S.W. WINS SHEFFIELD SHIELD". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 23 March 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
^ "Peter Pan Winning The 1932 Melbourne Cup". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2012.