- 1629 – The Batavia struck a reef on Beacon Island off the Western Australian coast, part of the Houtman Abrolhos.
- 1924 – The first human voice was successfully transmitted from London to Australia from Marconi's experimental station.
- 1942 – The Uniform Income Tax Act, giving the Commonwealth government the sole right to collect tax for the duration of the war, came into effect.
- 1959 – The Soviet embassy in Canberra re-opened after closing in 1954 as a result of the Petrov Affair.
- 1985 – Melbourne celebrates its 150th anniversary