ON THIS DAY
1520
Portuguese-born navigator Ferdinand Magellan sails his three ships into the Pacific Ocean after finding his way through the South American strait that now bears his name.
1720
Female pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny went on trial and were convicted and sentenced to death; their executions were postponed because both were pregnant, and Bonny was eventually freed, though Read died in prison.
1814
Reverend Samuel Marsden leaves for New Zealand to bring Christianity to the Maori people.
1854
Troops entering Ballarat skirmish with gold miners, raising tensions that would result in the Eureka Stockade.
1883
An intercolonial conference opens in Sydney; it will call for the creation of a Federal Council of Australasia.
1893
Women vote for the first time anywhere in a national election in New Zealand.
1905
Miner turned journalist Arthur Griffith founds Sinn Fein in Dublin. He urged passive resistance to British rule in Ireland.
1932
Prime Minister Joseph Lyons unveils the Dog on the Tucker Box statue near Gundagai, in southwest NSW, in honour of early settlers of the district.
1947
India begin their first Test against Australia, playing in Brisbane. Don Bradman scores 160.
1976
Treasurer Phil Lynch devalues the Australian $ by 17.5 per cent.
1992
Artist Sidney Nolan dies at 75 in London.
2000
The parliament of The Netherlands passes a bill permitting euthanasia under specified conditions.
2012
The first of The Hobbit film series, An Unexpected Journey, directed by Peter Jackson (above), premieres in Wellington, New Zealand.