The Australian rugby team's left South Africa's Tri-Nations title defence in tatters with a 30 points to 13 win over the ill-disciplined Springboks in Brisbane, who now head home with three straight losses.
Wallabies halfback Will Genia celebrated his return from injury with a 75th-minute try to seal victory after the Springboks scored two second-half tries to claw back to within 10 points.
Drew Mitchell scored on the stroke of half-time and Matt Giteau slotted five penalties to maintain the tourists' winless record at Lang Park - now known as Suncorp Stadium.
The Springboks did themselves few favours, having a man sin-binned at the start of each half and conceding a raft of first-half penalties to allow the Wallabies to open a 17-3 lead at the break.
Jacque Fourie and Gurthro Steenkamp scored South Africa's first tries in 13 years at Lang Park after an indisciplined first half in which they managed only three points from a Morne Steyn penalty.