12 June in Australian History

Here are some of the events that happened on this day in Australian history. Please feel free to add others that you know of in the comments section.

• 1789 – The Hawkesbury River is discovered by Governor Arthur Phillip (pictured).
• 1883 – The first Australasian headquarters of the Salvation Army opened in Melbourne.
• 1886 – William Spence chaired a meeting of shearers in Ballarat, Victoria at which the unanimous decision was to form the Amalgamated Shearers’ Union which later became part of the Australian Workers Union.
• 1902 – The Commonwealth Franchise Act granted most Australian women the right to vote and stand in federal elections.
• 1956 – A free mass vaccination program with Salk polio vaccine commences.
• 1996 – Two Australian Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters collide near Townsville killing 18 soldiers.

International Observances.

• Chaco Armistice Day (Paraguay)
• Dia dos Namorados (Brazil)
• Helsinki Day (Finland)
• Independence Day, celebrates the independence…