ON THIS DAY
1610
Astronomer Galileo Galilei observes four moons orbiting Jupiter. These are the first satellites seen orbiting another planet.
1788
Crew and convicts of the First Fleet catch their first glimpse of what is now Australia, off the coast of Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania. The Lady Penrhyn signals land in sight.
1799
Bass and Flinders complete their circumnavigation of Van Diemen’s Land on the Norfolk, having explored the Tamar Estuary, climbed Mt Wellington and confirmed the existence of Bass Strait.
1830
Explorer Charles Sturt sets off with seven other men by boat down the Murrumbidgee River on his way to Lake Alexandrina.
1887
Four youths hang in Sydney’s Darlinghurst Jail for the gang rape of Mary Jane Hicks, 16, in Moore Park after she accepted a ride in a hansom cab. Two other men are given a reprieve.
1931
The first solo flight from Australia to New Zealand, by Australian Guy Menzies, 21, flying from Sydney, ends as he crash-lands on the west coast. He completes the flight in 11hr 45min in an aircraft named Southern Cross Junior.
1933
Bert Hinkler (pictured) dies in a plane crash in the mountains of Tuscany, Italy, on a flight from England to Australia.
1953
President Harry Truman announces the development of the hydrogen bomb.
1965
Sydney’s hydrofoil service begins between Circular Quay and Manly. The Japanese-built vessel carries 72 people and cuts travel from 40 to 20 mins.
1989
Emperor Hirohito, who came to the Japanese throne in 1926 with divine status and reigned during World War II, dies at 87.