1853:Australia's first paddle steamer, the Lady Augusta, set out from Goolwa on 25 August 1853 and traveled 2,200 kilometers upriver, arriving at Swan Hill on 17 September 1853. Caddell, who built the Lady Augusta, continued to carry goods on and along the Murray River; the Murray River town of Caddell in South Australia is now named after him.


1914:Andrew Fisher served as Prime Minister of Australia for the third time. He served as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and was particularly famous for leading the party to its first federal election win and the formation of its first majority government at the 1910 federal election. In 1972, Australia Post recognized his meritorious service by issuing a stamp bearing his likeness.


1962:Film director Baz Luhrmann was born. His projects span the film, television, opera, theater, music and recording industries, and he is considered by some to be a model for contemporary directors. He is the most commercially successful Australian director, with four of his films among the ten highest-grossing Australian films of all time.


2001:Australian Citizenship Day was first celebrated in Australia on 17 September 2001. Australian Citizenship Day is an opportunity for Australians to be proud of their citizenship and reflect on what it means to be Australian. Australians are encouraged to reflect on the history and changes that have shaped the country, and the role individuals play in shaping the nation's future.


2023:Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has issued a warning to Emerald residents, covering properties along Selma Rd between Emerald and Fairbairn Dam Rd. The department said residents must leave immediately. A fast-moving fire was burning near Fairbairn State Forest. The fire was expected to spread to Selma Road in the next few hours, with smoke making it difficult to see and breathe, and the neighborhood becoming hot, loud and potentially explosive.