- 1642 – Abel Tasman becomes the first European to discover the island Van Diemen's Land (later renamed Tasmania).
- 1934 – The ANZAC War Memorial in Sydney was opened.
- 1986 – Pope John Paul II began an Australian tour.
- 1987 – Joh Bjelke-Petersen sacks three ministers from his cabinet, accusing them of gross disloyalty.