23 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.

• 1860 – Sir Baldwin Spencer, the first person to study Australia anthropology, was born in Britain.
• 1903 – The first Australian postage stamps are issued, replacing pre-federation colonial stamps.
• 1979 – The Eastern Suburbs railway line is opened.
• 2000 – A fire at a backpacker hostel at Childers, Queensland (pictured) kills 15.

International Observances.

• Father’s Day (Nicaragua, Poland)
• Grand Duke’s Official Birthday (Luxembourg)
• International Widows Day (international)
• National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism (Canada)
• Okinawa Memorial Day (Okinawa Prefecture)
• Saint John’s Eve and the first day of the Midsummer celebrations [although this is not the real summer solstice; see June 20] (Roman Catholic Church, Europe):
  – Bonfires of Saint John (Spain)
  – First night of Festa de São João do…