Today is St Valentine's Day, which is a day to celebrate romance.
1779 - Captain James Cook is killed by natives in Hawaii.
1788 - Lieutenant Philip Gidley King leaves Sydney to establish a settlement on Norfolk Island.
1802 - Acting Lieutenant John Murray, commander of the ship ‘Lady Nelson’ becomes the first European to enter Port Phillip Bay. He is also known for his explorations and surveying work, including exploring the area around present-day Melbourne.
1885 - The Victorian Government offers to send troops to Sudan. Although the British declined this offer, a contingent from New South Wales was deployed briefly in the African nation, as the first time that soldiers in the pay of a self-governing Australian colony were to fight in an imperial war.
1900 - This is the date of the events in the movie ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’.
1942 - The ship ‘SS Vyner Brooke’ is sunk by Japanese forces whilst evacuating medical staff and wounded from Singapore. Matron Olive Dorothy Paschke from Dimboola was amongst the 300 passengers on board and is presumed to have drowned. The sundial in the grounds of the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College honours her sacrifice.
1966 - Decimal currency is introduced in Australia, and the Australian dollar makes its debut.
1975 - The 'Order of Australia' was established to recognize individuals for their public service.
1977 - Australian cyclist Cadel Evans is born. In 2011 Evans became one of only three non-Europeans to officially win the famous Tour de France cycling race.
2005 - The internet video-sharing platform, YouTube, is launched. |