1792: Early Australian pioneer John Fawkner was born. After Baartman's death in 1839, Faulkner took advantage of his rival's absence to promote himself as the founder of Melbourne. He won many followers, and Faulkner's influence grew and he entered politics. In 1851 he became a member of the first Legislative Council for the District of Port Phillip and 5 years later was elected to the first Parliament of the self-governing colony of Victoria.


1973: The Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Fireworks were set off at the opening ceremony and Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" was played. The building was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon in 1955. Construction of the Opera House began in 1959 and was completed in 1973 at a cost of $102 million. Now it has become one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world.


1989: The Grafton Bus crash occurred on the Pacific Highway near Grafton, Australia, when a tour bus collided with a semi-trailer, killing 21 people and injuring 22 others. At the time, it was the deadliest accident in Australian road transport history. In response to these accidents, Australia, particularly New South Wales, has worked to better regulate the heavy haulage industry.


2015: Sydney was hit by a massive thunderstorm, with two people struck by lightning in Sydney's inner west and a Qantas jet narrowly missing being struck by lightning as it landed at the city's airport. The thunderstorm came with the storm, causing thousands of homes to lose power. Large hail and damaging winds could hit parts of the Hunter, Illawarra, Central Tablelands and western Sydney, while heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding in some areas.


2022: The Australian Capital Territory has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to decriminalize small amounts of illegal drugs. ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the ACT was leading the country in reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs by taking progressive steps, focusing on diversion of drugs, provision of treatment and recovery services and reducing the stigma associated with drug use.