ON THIS DAY

1494: Columbus discovers Jamaica.

1841: New Zealand is formally proclaimed a British colony.

1927: Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) formed.

1937: Margaret Mitchell wins a Pulitzer Prize for her novel Gone with the Wind.

1970: Queen opens the new international terminal at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport.

1979: Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain’s first female PM.

2006: An Armenian airliner carrying 113 people tumbles into the Black Sea harbour of the Russian resort of Sochi.

Birthdays: Golda Meir, Israeli statesman (18981978); James Brown, US soul musician (19332006); David Hookes, Australian cricketer (19552004); Ben Elton, British comedian and author (1959-).