Operation Coburg (24 January − 1 March 1968) was an Australian and New Zealand military action during the Vietnam War. The operation saw heavy fighting between the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) and North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces during the wider fighting around Long Binh and Bien Hoa. American and South Vietnamese intelligence reports had indicated that an imminent communist offensive during the Tet … Continue reading January 24, 1968 – The 1st Australian Task Force launches Operation Coburg against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong
Category: Australian History
January 23, 1942 – The Battle of Rabaul commences Japan’s invasion of Australia’s Territory of New Guinea
The Battle of Rabaul, also known by the Japanese as Operation R, was fought on the island of New Britain in the Australian Territory of New Guinea, in January and February 1942. It was a strategically significant defeat of Allied forces by Japan in the Pacific campaign of World War II, with the Japanese invasion force quickly overwhelming the small Australian garrison, the majority of which was … Continue reading January 23, 1942 – The Battle of Rabaul commences Japan’s invasion of Australia’s Territory of New Guinea
January 22, 1943 – Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in Battle of Buna–Gona
The Battle of Buna–Gona was part of the New Guinea campaign in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. It followed the conclusion of the Kokoda Track campaign and lasted from 16 November 1942 until 22 January 1943. The battle was fought by Australian and United States forces agasinst the Japanese beachheads at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. From these, the Japanese had launched an … Continue reading January 22, 1943 – Australian and American forces defeat Japanese army and navy units in Battle of Buna–Gona
January 21, 1931 – Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia
Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, GCB, GCMG, PC, KC (6 August 1855 – 11 February 1948) was an Australian lawyer, politician, and judge who served as the ninth Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1931 to 1936. He had previously served on the High Court of Australia from 1906 to 1931, including as Chief Justice from 1930. Isaacs was born in Melbourne and grew up in Yackandandah and Beechworth (in country Victoria). He … Continue reading January 21, 1931 – Sir Isaac Isaacs is sworn in as the first Australian-born Governor-General of Australia
January 20, 1990 – Birth of Ray Thompson, Australian rugby league player
Ray Thompson (born 20 January 1990), also known by the nickname of "Ray-Ray", is a former Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who played as a five-eighth, halfback and hooker. He was an Indigenous All Stars representative and spent his entire professional career with the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL). Born in Cairns, Queensland, Thompson is of Indigenous Australian and Papua New Guinean descent. He played his junior football for Centrals … Continue reading January 20, 1990 – Birth of Ray Thompson, Australian rugby league player
January 19, 1935 – Birth of Johnny O’Keefe, Australian singer-songwriter
John Michael O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer, born in Bondi Junction on January 19, 1935. His career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" (1958), "Shout!" and "She's My Baby". In his twenty-year career, O'Keefe released over fifty singles, 50 EPs and 100 albums. O'Keefe was also a radio and television entertainer and … Continue reading January 19, 1935 – Birth of Johnny O’Keefe, Australian singer-songwriter
January 18, 1977 – Australia’s worst rail disaster occurs at Granville, Sydney, killing 83
The Granville rail/train disaster occurred on Tuesday 18 January 1977 at Granville, New South Wales, a western suburb of Sydney, when a crowded commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the train's passenger carriages. The official enquiry found the primary cause of the crash to be poor fastening of … Continue reading January 18, 1977 – Australia’s worst rail disaster occurs at Granville, Sydney, killing 83
January 17, 1877 – Birth of May Gibbs, English-Australian author and illustrator
Cecilia May Gibbs MBE (17 January 1877 – 27 November 1969) was an Australian children's author, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is best known for her gumnut babies (also known as "bush babies" or "bush fairies"), and the book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Gibbs was born in Sydenham, Kent, in the United Kingdom, to Herbert William Gibbs (1852 – 4 October 1940) … Continue reading January 17, 1877 – Birth of May Gibbs, English-Australian author and illustrator
January 16, 1918 – Birth of Clem Jones, 8th Lord Mayor of Brisbane
Clem Jones AO (16 January 1918 – 15 December 2007), a surveyor by profession, was the longest serving Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Queensland, representing the Labor Party from 1961 to 1975. He was Chair of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission from 1975 to 1978. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist. Public life During Jones' 15 years in office as the head of the Brisbane … Continue reading January 16, 1918 – Birth of Clem Jones, 8th Lord Mayor of Brisbane
January 15, 1842 – Birth of Mary MacKillop, nun and Australia’s first saint
Mary Helen MacKillop RSJ (15 January 1842 – 8 August 1909) was an Australian religious sister who has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church, as St Mary of the Cross. Of Scottish descent, she was born in Melbourne but is best known for her activities in South Australia. Together with the Reverend Julian Tenison-Woods, she founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites), … Continue reading January 15, 1842 – Birth of Mary MacKillop, nun and Australia’s first saint
January 14, 1960 – Reserve Bank of Australia established
On January 14, 1960, The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's central bank and banknote issuing authority, was established. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has had this role since 14 January 1960, when the Reserve Bank Act 1959 removed the central banking functions from the Commonwealth Bank. The bank has the responsibility of providing services to the Government of Australia in addition to also providing services … Continue reading January 14, 1960 – Reserve Bank of Australia established
January 13, 1939 – The Black Friday bushfires burn 20,000 square kilometers of land in Australia, claiming the lives of 71 people
The Black Friday bushfires of 13 January 1939, in Victoria, Australia, were part of the devastating 1938–1939 bushfire season in Australia, which saw bushfires burning for the whole summer, and ash falling as far away as New Zealand. It was calculated that three-quarters of the State of Victoria was directly or indirectly affected by the disaster, while other Australian states and the … Continue reading January 13, 1939 – The Black Friday bushfires burn 20,000 square kilometers of land in Australia, claiming the lives of 71 people
January 12, 2003 – Death of Maurice Gibb, Manx-Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Maurice Ernest Gibb CBE (22 December 1949 – 12 January 2003) was an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved fame as a member of the Bee Gees. Although his elder brother Barry Gibb and fraternal twin brother Robin Gibb were the group's main lead singers, most of their albums included at least one or two songs featuring Maurice's lead … Continue reading January 12, 2003 – Death of Maurice Gibb, Manx-Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
January 11, 1986 – The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened
The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges are a side-by-side pair of road bridges on the Gateway Motorway (M1), which skirts the eastern suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The western bridge carries traffic to the north and the eastern bridge carries traffic to the south. They are the most eastern crossing of the Brisbane River, the closest to Moreton Bay, crossing at the Quarries Reach, between Eagle … Continue reading January 11, 1986 – The Gateway Bridge, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia is officially opened
January 10, 1945 – Birth of John Fahey, New Zealand-Australian lawyer and politician, 38th Premier of New South Wales
John Joseph Fahey AC (10 January 1945 – 12 September 2020) was an Australian politician who served as Premier of New South Wales from 1992 to 1995 and as the federal Minister for Finance from 1996 to 2001. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1984 to 1996 and the federal House of Representatives from 1996 to 2001. Fahey also served … Continue reading January 10, 1945 – Birth of John Fahey, New Zealand-Australian lawyer and politician, 38th Premier of New South Wales
January 9, 1903 – Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, son of the poet Alfred Tennyson, becomes the second Governor-General of Australia
Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, GCMG, PC (11 August 1852 – 2 December 1928) was a British aristocrat who served as the second Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1903 to 1904. He was previously Governor of South Australia from 1899 to 1902. Tennyson was born in Twickenham, Middlesex, and educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was the eldest son of the poet Alfred, … Continue reading January 9, 1903 – Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, son of the poet Alfred Tennyson, becomes the second Governor-General of Australia
January 8, 1885 – Birth of John Curtin, Australian journalist and politician, 14th Prime Minister of Australia
John Curtin (8 January 1885 – 5 July 1945) was an Australian politician who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia from 1941 until his death in 1945. He led the country for the majority of World War II, including all but the last few weeks of the war in the Pacific. He was the leader of the Australian … Continue reading January 8, 1885 – Birth of John Curtin, Australian journalist and politician, 14th Prime Minister of Australia
January 7, 1920 – Death of Edmund Barton, Australian judge and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Australia
Sir Edmund "Toby" Barton, GCMG, KC (18 January 1849 – 7 January 1920) was an Australian politician and judge who served as the first Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1901 to 1903. He resigned to become a founding member of the High Court of Australia, where he served until his death. Barton was an early supporter of the federation of the Australian … Continue reading January 7, 1920 – Death of Edmund Barton, Australian judge and politician, 1st Prime Minister of Australia
January 6, 1953 – Birth of Malcolm Young, Scottish-Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Malcolm Mitchell Young (6 January 1953 – 18 November 2017) was an Australian musician and songwriter. He was best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist, and songwriter of the rock band AC/DC. Except for a brief absence in 1988, he was with the band from its beginning in 1973 until retiring in 2014 due to health reasons. … Continue reading January 6, 1953 – Birth of Malcolm Young, Scottish-Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer
January 5, 1975 – The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, killing twelve people
The Tasman Bridge disaster occurred on the evening of 5 January 1975, in Hobart, the capital city of Australia's island state of Tasmania, when a bulk ore carrier travelling up the Derwent River collided with several pylons of the Tasman Bridge, causing a large section of the bridge deck to collapse onto the ship and into the river below. Twelve people were … Continue reading January 5, 1975 – The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra, killing twelve people
January 4, 1931 – Birth of William Deane, Australian judge and politician, 22nd Governor-General of Australia
Sir William Patrick Deane AC KBE QC (born 4 January 1931) is an Australian barrister and jurist who served as the 22nd Governor-General of Australia, in office from 1996 to 2001. He was previously a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1982 to 1995. Deane received his undergraduate education at the University of Sydney, and later studied international law at The Hague Academy of … Continue reading January 4, 1931 – Birth of William Deane, Australian judge and politician, 22nd Governor-General of Australia
January 3, 1956 – Mel Gibson, American-Australian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter was born
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson AO (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apocalyptic action series Mad Max and as Martin Riggs in the buddy cop film series Lethal Weapon. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia, when he was 12 … Continue reading January 3, 1956 – Mel Gibson, American-Australian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter was born
January 2, 1830 – Henry Kingsley, English Australian writer, born in Northamptonshire
Henry Kingsley (2 January 1830 – 24 May 1876) was an English novelist, brother of the better-known Charles Kingsley. He was an early exponent of muscular Christianity in an 1859 work, The Recollections of Geoffry Hamlyn. Kingsley was born at Barnack Rectory, Northamptonshire, the son of the Rev. Charles Kingsley the elder and Mary, née Lucas. Charles Kingsley came of a long line of clergymen and … Continue reading January 2, 1830 – Henry Kingsley, English Australian writer, born in Northamptonshire
January 1, 1901 – Six British colonies federate as the Commonwealth of Australia
On January 1, 1901, the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia federated as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton was appointed the first Prime Minister. By establishing the Commonwealth, they established a system of federalism in Australia. The colonies of Fiji and New Zealand were originally part of … Continue reading January 1, 1901 – Six British colonies federate as the Commonwealth of Australia
December 31, 1790 – Enough barley is harvested in the penal colony of New South Wales to alleviate impending starvation
The First Fleet, containing the officers and convicts who would first settle Australia, arrived in Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. The colony's Governor, Captain Arthur Phillip, immediately determined that there was insufficient fresh water, an absence of usable timber, poor quality soil and no safe harbour at Botany Bay. Thus the fleet was moved … Continue reading December 31, 1790 – Enough barley is harvested in the penal colony of New South Wales to alleviate impending starvation
Craig Hill 