3 September 1939
Prime Minister Menzies announced that, as a state of war existed between Britain and Germany, Australia was also at war
15 September 1939
6th Division created, the first in the force known as the Second AIF
April 1940
Beginning of the Siege of Tobruk (lasted until 10 December)
June 1940
Communist Party banned
21 September 1940
Election result left Menzies Government dependent on two Independents
October 1940
Petrol rationed
28 August 1941
Resignation of Prime Minister Menzies to be succeeded by Arthur Fadden
4 October 1941
Prime Minister Fadden resigns
7 October 1941
Curtin sworn in as prime minister
19 November 1941
HMAS Sydney sunk with the loss of all hands
7 December 1941
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour
9 December 1941
Australian declaration of war on Japan
10 December 1941
British battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk off the Malaysian coast
22 December 1941
First convoy of 4,600 American troops arrived in Brisbane after being diverted from Philippines
27 December 1941
Curtin’s famous New Year message that Australia ‘looks to America’
4 January 1942
First bombs dropped on territory under Australian control at Rabaul in New Britain
3 February 1942
First bombing raid on Port Moresby
15 February 1942
Fall of Singapore
19 February 1942
First Japanese bombing raid on the Australian mainland with two attacks on Darwin
22 February 1942
Curtin’s cablegram to Churchill insisting that the Australian troops diverted towards Burma should be returned to Australia
1 March 1942
Cruiser HMAS Perth sunk off the Sunda Straits
3 March 1942
First bombing raids on Broome and Wyndham
17 March 1942
Arrival of General Douglas MacArthur in Australia as the Supreme Commander of all Allied forces in the South West Pacific
5 May 1942
Beginning of battle of the Coral Sea
15 May 1942
Introduction into the Commonwealth parliament of the four bills providing for the Commonwealth takeover of income tax
31 May 1942
Japanese midget submarine entered Sydney Harbour
4–7 June 1942
Battle of Midway Island
15 June 1942
Clothing and footwear rationed
6 July 1942
Tea rationed
29 July 1942
Kokoda occupied by the Japanese (recaptured by Australians on 2 November)
31 August 1942
Sugar rationed
December 1942
Creation of the Department of Postwar Reconstruction with Chifley as Minister
1 February 1943
Following the victory at El Alamein the last Australian troops (of the 9th Division) withdrawn from the Middle East
February 1943
Defence Act amended to allow conscription for military service within a limited area south of the Equator beyond the Australian mainland and territories
7 June 1943
Butter rationed
21 August 1943
Big election victory for Prime Minister Curtin; first women elected to the Commonwealth parliament
October 1943
Meat rationed
January 1944
Australia-New Zealand Pact is signed
May 1944
Dominion Prime Ministers Conference in London attended by Curtin
22 July 1944
Bretton Woods Agreement announced
5 August 1944
Mass outbreak of Japanese POWs from Cowra
November 1944
Curtin’s first heart attack
7 May 1945
German surrender
26 June 1945
United Nations Charter signed
5 July 1945
Prime Minister Curtin dies in office
12 July 1945
Ben Chifley becomes prime minister
15 August 1945
Japanese surrender (document signed 2 September)
28 September 1946
Election confirmed Chifley in office
28 September 1946
Referendum to amend the constitution
1947
Australia agrees to accept displaced persons through the International Refugee Organisation
March 1947
Australian ratification of the Bretton Woods Agreement
10 December 1949
Chifley Government defeated
19 December 1949
Liberal leader Menzies sworn in as prime minister
1 September 1951
ANZUS Treaty signed
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