1942

• January 1: Daylight savings is introduced as a wartime economy measure.
• February 19: More than 70 Japanese aircraft launch an air raid on Darwin wiping out buildings, port facilities, stores, and killing 240 people.
• August 31: Sugar is added to the wartime rations list. Each Australian citizen is limited to 2 pounds of sugar per fortnight, with special arrangements made for housewives preserving jam.

1946

• January 26: Foundation Day is renamed Australia Day.
• November 23: The Government implements a plan to greatly increase immigration to Australia. The Minister for Immigration announces to Parliament that free and assisted passage schemes will be available for those migrating from Britain and continental Europe.

1948

• June 22: Housewives no longer require coupons to be able to purchase meat and clothing after Prime Minister Ben Chifley's surprise announcement that rationing of these items has finally ended.
• November 30: The first mass-produced Australian automobile comes off the line at General Motors-Holden's plant at Fishermans Bend. The car has a 6-cylinder engine, with 21.6 horsepower and is priced at 760 pounds (including taxes and registration).
• December 13: Don Bradman, arguably Australia's greatest ever batsman, announces his retirement from first class cricket.