- 1821 – Sir Thomas Brisbane is commissioned as Governor to succeed Macquarie, he replaces Maquarie on 1 December of the same year.
- 1954 – Queen Elizabeth arrives in Australia with Prince Philip on a royal tour.
- 1967 – Ronald Ryan is hanged at Melbourne's Pentridge Gaol, becoming the last person to be legally executed in Australia.
- 1983 – Bob Hawke becomes leader of the Australian Labor Party.
- 2004 – The Ghan arrives in Darwin, completing the first passenger rail journey from Adelaide to Darwin.