- 1788 – The Colony of New South Wales is officially created with Arthur Phillip as the first Governor.
- 1967 – Bushfires in Tasmania, destroy over 1,000 homes and take 62 lives.
- 1969 – Nine people were killed in the Violet Town railway disaster.
- 1986 – Lindy Chamberlain is released from prison after serving three years upon the find of new evidence which eventually leads a judge to overturn her conviction.
- 2009 – Bushfires in Victoria left over 100 dead in the deadliest bushfires in Australia's history.