Today is Australian Citizenship Day – This is promoted as an opportunity for all Australian citizens, whether by birth or by choice, to reflect on the meaning and importance of their citizenship. The day was chosen as it is the anniversary of the renaming, in 1973, of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 to the Australian Citizenship Act 1948.
1853 - Australia's first paddle steamer, the 'Lady Augusta' reaches Swan Hill in Victoria on its maiden voyage from Goolwa in South Australia. (Picture Credit - State Library of South Australia - PRG 1258/1/1768)
1865 - William Murray McPherson, the Premier of Victoria between 22 November 1928 and 12 December 1929, is born.
1884 - The Nhill and North-west Wimmera Agricultural and Pastoral Society hold its first show at Nhill, with over 2,000 people from throughout the district attending.
1900 - The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed.
1908 - The first air fatality occurs when a plane being piloted by Orville Wright crashes, killing his passenger.
1914 - Andrew Fisher becomes Prime Minister of Australia for the third time.
1916 - The Red Baron (Manfred von Richthofen), World War I flying ace of the German Luftstreitkräfte, wins his first aerial combat near Cambrai, France.
1939 - The Soviet Union joins Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland.
1940 - After failing to gain air superiority over England during the 'Battle of Britain' and the approaching unfavourable autumn weather, Hitler postpones 'Operation Sea Lion', the invasion of England.
1972 - The television series "M*A*S*H" premieres.
1976 - NASA publicly unveils its first space shuttle, the ‘Enterprise’, during a ceremony in Palmdale, California.
1978 - The coat of arms of the Northern Territory is granted by Queen Elizabeth II.
2013 - The stricken Italian cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, is set upright in the largest salvage operation of its kind to date. | 
