- 1826 – Charles Todd responsible for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line born.
- 1851 – News of the discovery of gold at Clunes, Victoria is published in the Geelong Advertiser.
- 1907 – The Australian Navy Cadets is established.
- 1945 – The Australian 7th Division commences operations in the Battle of Balikpapan. Operations are completed by 21 July.
- 1960 – Eight-year-old Graeme Thorne is kidnapped and held for ransom after his parents win a lottery.
- 1975 – Footballer and Brownlow Medal winner, Michael Voss is born.
- 1986 – Brian Chambers and Kevin Barlow become the first westerners executed in Malaysia under strict new Asian drug-trafficking laws.
- 1991 – The Australian Republican Movement was formed amidst a growing debate about Australian republicanism.
- 2002 – The British Naval destroyer HMS Nottingham (D91) runs aground off Lord Howe Island.