ON THIS DAY

1539: Marriage treaty is signed for England’s King Henry VIII to wed Anne of Cleves, his fourth wife.

1817: Government House in Hobart is completed. 1931: US comic strip Dick Tracy, created by Chester Gould, makes its debut.

1935: Luna Park opens beside Sydney Harbour.

1957: The Soviet Union puts the first spacecraft, Sputnik, into orbit around Earth.

1969: China announces two nuclear weapons tests, including hydrogen bomb explosion.

2001: A Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile brings down a Russian airliner over the Black Sea, killing all 78 people on board.

2015: North Queensland Cowboys beat Brisbane Broncos 17-16 in first NRL golden-point grand final.

Birthdays: US comic actor Buster Keaton (1895-1966); US actor Charlton Heston (1923-2008); Australian celebrity chef George Calombaris (1978-).