- 1804 – Lieutenant-Governor David Collins established camp at Sullivan's Cove, Tasmania.
- 1823 – Surveyor James McBrien at the Fish River near Bathurst discovers gold. It is the first known report of gold, though it is not made public, the Australian gold rushes do not begin until 1851.
- 1934 – Entertainer and Gold Logie winner, Graham Kennedy is born.
- 1937 – An explosion kills 13 men at the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi, Victoria.
- 1942 – Fifteen thousand Australians are taken as prisoners of war at the fall of Singapore.