- 1789 – The Hawkesbury River is discovered by Governor Arthur Phillip.
- 1883 – The first Australasian headquarters of the Salvation Army opened in Melbourne.
- 1886 – William Spence chaired a meeting of shearers in Ballarat, Victoria at which the unanimous decision was to form the Amalgamated Shearers' Union which later became part of the Australian Workers Union.
- 1902 – The Commonwealth Franchise Act granted most Australian women the right to vote and stand in federal elections.
- 1956 – A free mass vaccination program with Salk polio vaccine commences.
- 1996 – Two Australian Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters collide near Townsville killing 18 soldiers.