1859 in Australia
See also: 1858 in Australia, other events of 1859, 1860 in Australia and the Timeline of Australian history.
Incumbents
Governors
Governors of the Australian colonies:
- Governor of New South Wales - Sir William Denison
- Governor of Queensland - Sir George Bowen
- Governor of South Australia - Sir Richard MacDonnell
- Governor of Tasmania - Sir Henry Young
- Governor of Victoria - Sir Henry Barkly
- Governor of Western Australia as a Crown Colony - Sir Arthur Kennedy
Premiers
Premiers of the Australian colonies:
- Premier of New South Wales - Charles Cowper, William Forster
- Premier of Queensland - Robert Herbert
- Premier of South Australia - Richard Hanson
- Premier of Tasmania - Francis Smith
- Premier of Victoria - John O'Shanassy, William Nicholson
- Premier of Western Australia - office first formed in 1890
Events
- May 14 - Melbourne Football Club is founded
- June 6 - The colony of Queensland is established by decree of Queen Victoria.
- August 5 - The passenger steamship SS Admella is shipwrecked on a submerged reef near Mount Gambier South Australia with the loss of 89 lives.
- October 6 - Thomas Austin takes 24 rabbits and 5 hares to Australia in order to release them there as a game. They will multiply exponentially.