ON THIS DAY

1087: William II is crowned King of England.

1580: Sir Francis Drake arrives in Plymouth, England, after sailing The Golden Hind around the world in 33 months.

1855: Australia’s first railway station opens at what is to become Central Station.

1978: Polish Karol Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope since 1522.

1983: Australia II wins America’s Cup yachting series off Newport, Rhode Island, the first US loss in 132 years.

1986: Australian film Crocodile Dundee opens in US and takes the country by storm.

2008: The list of products caught in China’s tainted milk scandal grows to include baby cereal.

Birthdays: US songwriter George Gershwin (1898-1937); Australian cricketer Ian Chappell (1943-); Australian singer Olivia Newton-John (1948-); US tennis ace Serena Williams (1981-).