- 1889 – The Tenterfield Oration is delivered by Henry Parkes, calling for the Federation of the states.
- 1907 – Chris Watson resigns as leader of the Australian Labor Party.
- 1934 – C.W.A. Scott and Tom Campbell Black cross the finishing line and win the MacRobertson Air Race, flying from London to Melbourne in an elapsed time of 71 hours.
- 1980 – The Special Broadcasting Service begins full-time television transmission in Melbourne and Sydney, Bruce Gyngell who was the first man to speak on Australian television in 1956 did the honours.