Chalmers, who led by four with four holes to play, clung on to beat compatriots Peter Senior and Stuart Appleby after a composed closing round of two-under-par 70 for a total of level-par 288.

Six-time major champion, Faldo tied with Robert Allenby in fourth place - three shots adrift after recording a fourth round 73.

Chalmers became the first left-hander to win the Australian Open since amateur Claude Felstead in 1909.

But he had to endure a nervous wait at the last hole as Appleby, a shot behind, tried to force him to a play-off.

In the end Appleby's birdie putt rolled agonisingly wide of the mark.

Victory was the breakthrough the 25-year-old Chalmers, from Western Australia, had been threatening while on the European PGA Tour.

He was 25th on the money list and was runner-up in the Spanish and English Opens.