Year in Search: Here’s what Aussies searched for in 2019

From bushfires to rugby and plant-based recipes – our Searches showed our greatest curiosities, quirks and cravings in 2019.

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the moments that had Aussies searching, wondering – and baking scones. It's been a year of battling bushfires, following elections and learning how to #kicklikeagirl. We welcomed a Royal Baby, bid farewell to some of the greats, and looked for answers during crises. Whether we were building decks, looking to vote or solving rubix cubes, we turned to Search when we wanted to learn, understand or needed a helping hand.

Here's a summary of five themes that defined Search in Australia in 2019:

Fires, floods and disasters

2019 was the year we navigated natural disasters, both on our shores and abroad. “Fires near me” was the highest Search query in Australia for the year – and our top trending News Searches included “NSW fires,” “Cyclone Oma,” and “Townsville flooding.” Beyond our borders, we showed our concern for the Amazon and asked why it was burning. We also tried to make sense of atrocities and attacks, searching for Christchurch and Sri Lanka – and why Hong Kong is protesting.

All about sport

Whether we were watching live, following our teams or looking up scores, our passion for sport came through in Search. We followed the Rugby, Cricket and Basketball World Cups – and tuned into the Ashes.

Female sports stars also shone bright in Search this year. Ash Barty topped the list of top trending Aussies overall, Tayla Harris was the top football player – while queries for “Women’s World Cup” were among the top trending Searches for sporting events in Australia.

Crafty, creative and curious

Aussies were full of questions and projects in 2019, both big and small. We embarked on DIY craft, beauty and home renovation projects – asking how to make beeswax wraps, face masks, and decorations. We certainly didn’t shy away from large-scale projects however, as the top trending DIY Search was “how to build a deck.”

Our questions ranged from practical, political, pop-cultural, scientific and religious. As Aussies hit the polling booths, we looked for help on how to vote. We also wondered how to pronounce “psalm,” what a VSCO girl and astrophysicist is – along with the timeless question, “How to win the Powerball.” Madonna was also a subject of our Search attention as we wondered why she wore an eye patch at Eurovision, which led the list of top trending “Why is…?” queries.

Colourful cravings

From scones to risotto, apple pie to fried rice, Aussies had a palette for all kinds of sweet, savoury and multicultural dishes this year. While we looked up hearty classics like osso buco and beef stroganoff, Searches for “plant based recipes” took the cake in 2019, leading the list of top trending recipes. And as the ketogenic craze continues, we also asked what the keto diet is.

New beginnings and goodbyes

Aussies showed their support for the Royal baby this year, as the world welcomed little Archie in May. We also bid farewell to politicians, fashion icons, sports stars and actors. We mourned the loss of local legend Bob Hawke – as well as global powerhouses, Karl Lagerfeld and Doris Day.

To rediscover the events, people and topics that defined 2019 around the world, watch our global Year in Search video:

To dive into Australia's lists, check out Australia's full trending* lists for 2019:

Searches (Trending)

1. Fires near me
2. Rugby World Cup
3. Cricket World Cup
4. Election results Australia 2019
5. Cameron Boyce
6. Thanos
7. Avengers Endgame
8. Danny Frawley
9. The fall of the Berlin wall
10. Christchurch shooting

News (Trending)

1. Election results Australia 2019
2. Christchurch shooting
3. NSW fires
4. Cyclone Oma
5. Sri Lanka
6. NSW election
7. Brexit
8. Townsville flooding
9. Royal baby
10. Amazon fire

Sporting events (Trending)

1. Rugby World Cup
2. Cricket World Cup
3. FIBA World Cup
4. Cricket Australia
5. Pakistan vs Australia
6. Ashes score
7. Copa America
8. Ashes 4th test
9. NRL grand final
10. Women's World Cup

Global figures (Trending)

1. James Charles
2. Billie Eilish
3. Jordyn Woods
4. Greta Thunberg
5. Keanu Reeves
6. Julian Assange
7. Lady Gaga
8. Tsitsipas
9. Bradley Cooper
10. Prince Andrew

Australian public figures (Trending)

1. Ash Barty
2. Fraser Anning
3. Israel Folau
4. Cody Simpson
5. Scott Morrison
6. Bill Shorten
7. Jack Vidgen
8. George Pell
9. Tayla Harris
10. Chris Lilley

Loss (Trending)

1. Cameron Boyce
2. Danny Frawley
3. Luke Perry
4. Bob Hawke
5. Annalise Braakensiek
6. Karl Lagerfeld
7. Keith Flint
8. Doris Day
9. Mike Willesee
10. Ben Unwin

Recipes (Trending)

1. Plant based recipes
2. Scones recipes
3. Beef stroganoff recipes
4. MKR recipes 2019
5. Apple pie recipes
6. Frittata recipes
7. Fried rice recipes
8. Risotto recipes
9. Hello Fresh recipes
10. Osso buco recipes

How to…? (Trending)

1. How to vote
2. How to watch Game of Thrones
3. How to vote labor 2019
4. How to vote liberal
5. How to pronounce psalm
6. How to vote in NSW State Election
7. How to vote early
8. How to win Powerball
9. How to opt out of my health
10. How to solve a rubix cube

Why is..? (Trending)

1. Why is Madonna wearing an eye patch at Eurovision
2. Why is the Amazon burning
3. Why is Australia Day on the 26th
4. Why is the Press Club closing
5. Why is Instagram not working
6. Why is ASAP rocky in jail
7. Why is Hong Kong protesting
8. Why is Halloween celebrated
9. Why is ANZAC day commemorated on 25 April
10. Why is Turkey invading Syria

What is…? (Trending)

1. What is area 51
2. What is momo
3. What is Brexit
4. What is a VSCO girl
5. What is a boomer
6. What is keto diet
7. What is an astrophysicist
8. What is negative gearing
9. What is Diwali
10. What is vaping

Top related searches for “DIY” in 2019 in Australia (Most Searched)

1. How to build a deck
2. DIY face mask
3. How to lay pavers
4. DIY halloween costumes
5. Beeswax wraps DIY
6. DIY Christmas decorations
7. DIY balloon garland
8. DIY garage
9. DIY lip scrub
10. DIY dog wash

* Trending Searches: What was hot in 2019? The "trending" queries are the searches that had the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2019 as compared to 2018.

* Most Searched: What topped Google’s charts? The "most searched" queries are the most popular terms for 2019—ranked in order by volume of searches.