1883 – Roger William Bede Vaughan, the second Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney dies, aged 49.
1904 – George Reid becomes the fourth Prime Minister of Australia.
1966 – The Battle of Long Tan was a decisive Australian victory in the Vietnam War. The date is commemorated in Australia as Long Tan Day, also known as Vietnam Veterans' Remembrance Day.
1983 – Douglas Crabbe rams his 25 ton Mack truck through a hotel wall in Yulara, Northern Territory, killing five people.
1984 – The Fine Cotton scam is discovered at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane.
1986 – Janine Haines become the leader of the Australian Democrats and Australia’s first female party leader.
1989 – A national pilots' strike begins, defence force planes were used for some domestic flights.