Events
On this day: Australia at war
On 3 September 1939, two days after Hitler invaded Poland, Australia entered World War II.
Category: On This Day
On This Day
On this day: PNG gains independence
On 16 September 1975, Papua New Guinea became an independent state after 70 years under Australian rule.
On This Day
On this day: First picture of a tornado in Australia
On 27 September 1911, a violent Australian tornado was captured on film for the first time.
On This Day
On this day: Australia’s first atomic bomb test
On 3 October 1952, Britain tested its first atomic weapon off the coast of Western Australia.
History & Culture
On this day: Sturt begins river exploration
In 1828 Charles Sturt began an exploration of the puzzling westward-flowing rivers and Australia’s inland sea.
History & Culture
On this day: Abel Tasman sights Tasmania
On this day in 1642, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman first sighted Van Deimen’s Land, which is now Tasmania.
History & Culture
On this day: Mawson sets sail for Antarctica
One century ago today, Sir Douglas Mawson set off on the first Australian expedition to Antarctica.
On This Day
Birth of the Australian Empire?
1804’s Castle Hill Rebellion was the first Australian convict uprising, a violent and chaotic attempt to overthrow the colonial authorities.
History & Culture
On this day: Australia’s last convict ship docks
Australia’s last convict ship, The Blackwall Frigate Hougoumont, unloads the final 279 convicts in WA.
History & Culture
On this day in history: Australia’s first stamp released
Nearly a century ago, the first stamp in Australia was released.