"\BFeb 03, \J1788\j\b - Rev. Richard Johnson conducts the first Christian service in the colony."
"\BFeb 06, \J1788\j\b - Female convicts landed; debauchery and riot follow. At night, during a violent thunderstorm, lightning kills six sheep and a pig."
"\BFeb 07, \J1788\j\b - Colony of New South Wales formally proclaimed; Judge-Advocate David Collins reads the commission appointing Phillip Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of NSW."
"\BFeb 10, \J1788\j\b - First marriages solemnized in Australia, including those of William Bryant and Mary Broad, and Henry Kable and Susannah Holmes."
"\BFeb 11, \J1788\j\b - First sitting of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction (Judge-Advocate and six/seven military or naval officers)."
"\BFeb 14, \J1788\j\b - \ISupply\b\i (Lt Henry Lidgbird Ball) sails for Norfolk Is. with a party of 23 led by Lt Philip Gidley King to found a settlement there."
"\BFeb 17, \J1788\j\b - Ball discovers Lord Howe Is."
"\BFeb 27, \J1788\j\b - Convict Thomas Barrett sentenced to death for robbing public store; executed in evening (first death sentence imposed in the colony)."
"\BFeb 17, \J1788\j\b - Father Laurent Receveur (of La PΘrouse's expedition) died"
"\BFeb 20, \J1789\j\b - Gov. Phillip informs Under-Secretary Evan Nepean in England of the non-cooperation of Maj. Robert Ross."
"\BFeb 22, \J1791\j\b - James Ruse having declared himself self-supporting, the deed of the first land grant made in Australiaù30 acres (12 ha) at Rose Hill (Experiment Farm)ùis signed. (Ruse receives title to the land in April.)"
"\BFeb 27, \J1791\j\b - \ISupply\b\i returns from Norfolk Is. with Capt. John Hunter and the rest of \ISirius\b\i 's company."
"\BFeb 07, \J1793\j\b - Land grants made to free settlers at Liberty Plains (Strathfield-Homebush)."
"\BFeb 12, \J1793\j\b - John Macarthur receives grant of 100 acres at Parramatta, which he names Elizabeth Farm; other grants made to Capt. George Johnston (100 acres, Annandale), Commissary-General John Palmer (100 acres, Woolloomooloo), Quartermaster Thomas Laycock (80 acres, Vaucluse), Surgeon John White (100 acres, Petersham), and Rev. Richard Johnson (100 acres, Canterbury)."
"\BFeb 16, \J1793\j\b - Macarthur appointed Inspector of Public Works."
"\BFeb 18, \J1793\j\b - School opened in an unfinished church building in Sydney; teacher is Johnson's clerk, Stephen Barnes."
"\BFeb 25, \J1793\j\b - William Bampton's \IShah Hormuzear\b\i arrives at Port Jackson with a cargo of goods and livestock, including about a hundred Bengal sheep."
"\BFeb 28, \J1793\j\b - D'Entrecasteaux sails from Van Diemen's Land for Tonga after charting bays and islands in the south-east."
"\BFeb 06, \J1794\j\b - Capt. John Hunter appointed Governor of NSW to succeed Phillip."
"\BFeb 15, \J1795\j\b - HMS \IReliance,\b\i with the \ISupply,\b\i leaves England carrying John Hunter to take up his appointment as Governor of NSW; also aboard are Henry Waterhouse (second captain), Matthew Flinders (master's mate), George Bass (surgeon), with the boat \ITom Thumb,\b\i and a repatriating Bennelong."
"\BFeb 04, \J1796\j\b - NSW Corps soldiers wreck the house of carpenter John Baughan."
"\BFeb 10, \J1796\j\b - Magistrate William Balmain challenges Macarthur over the Baughan incident; in return, all NSW Corps officers offer to fight Balmain."
"\BFeb 11, \J1796\j\b - \IMarquis Cornwallis\b\i arrives at Port Jackson with 222 Irish convicts, a mutiny having been put down during the voyage."
"\BFeb 15, \J1796\j\b - Black Caesar is shot and killed by a settler at Liberty Plains."
"\BFeb 18, \J1796\j\b - Thomas Muir, one of the Scottish Martyrs, escapes in the American vessel \IOtter\b\i (eventually reaching Paris)."
"\BFeb 29, \J1796\j\b - Macarthur resigns as Inspector of Public Works and is replaced by Richard Atkins."
"\BFeb 09, \J1797\j\b - \ISydney Cove,\b\i en route from Calcutta to Port Jackson, is beached on Preservation Is. in the Furneaux Group; 17 men set out in the ship's longboat to sail to Sydney for help (28th)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1798\j\b - \IFrancis,\b\i with Matthew Flinders aboard, leaves Port Jackson again to retrieve stores from the wreck of the \ISydney Cove."
"\BFeb 08, \J1798\j\b - \IFrancis\b\i discovers the Kent group of islands."
"\BFeb 12, \J1798\j\b - Flinders explores the Furneaux Is."
"\BFeb 25, \J1798\j\b - Bass returns to Port Jackson convinced of the existence of a strait at the south of the continent, which Hunter names in his honour."
"\BFeb 11, \J1799\j\b - Public gaol in Sydney deliberately burnt down."
"\BFeb 28, \J1799\j\b - Hunter issues another general order prohibiting the distilling of spirits."
"\BFeb 14, \J1800\j\b - Robert Campbell returns to Sydney from Calcutta to establish a trading and importing business."
"\BFeb 16, \J1800\j\b - \IFriendship\b\i arrives at Port Jackson with 114 convicts, including Father James Dixon and James Meehan."
"\BFeb 10, \J1801\j\b - Ticket-of-leave system introduced by King, enabling convicts to work for wages and choose their own master."
"\BFeb 21, \J1801\j\b - Transport \IAnn\b\i arrives at Port Jackson with 251 convicts, including 137 Irish political prisoners."
"\BFeb 21, \J1802\j\b - Boat crew of eight from \IInvestigator\b\i drown at Cape Catastrophe."
"\BFeb 25, \J1802\j\b - Flinders surveys Port Lincoln and Spencer Gulf (to 20 Mar.)."
"\BFeb 15, \J1804\j\b - David Collins and party in the \IOcean\b\i arrive at the Derwent from Port Phillip. (Collins becomes Lt-Governor of Van Diemen's Land, 16th.)"
"\BFeb 19, \J1804\j\b - Collins decides on Sullivan Cove (not Bowen's site at Risdon Cove) as settlement site, takes possession, and (20th) lands a party there."
"\BFeb 26, \J1804\j\b - First church service in Tas. conducted by Robert Knopwood on the site of Hobart Town Hall."
"\BFeb 23, \J1805\j\b - Surveyor-General G. W. Evans discharged for fraud."
"\BFeb 07, \J1805\j\b - Alexander Harris born (-\J1874\j)."
"\BFeb 03, \J1807\j\b - Lt Thomas Laycock and four others walk from Port Dalrymple to Hobart (arr. 11th) to try to obtain provisions for the settlement."
"\BFeb 08, \J1807\j\b - Laycock discovers the Clyde River, Tas."
"\BFeb 10, \J1807\j\b - P. G. King sails for England in command of HMS \IBuffalo;\b\i also aboard are Samuel Marsden, going to England to recruit clergy for the colony and taking with him the first consignment of Australian wool large enough to weave into a length of cloth, and J. H. Vaux as King's unofficial secretary."
"\BFeb 14, \J1807\j\b - Gov. Bligh prohibits the use of spirits to barter for food and clothing."
"\BFeb 02, \J1808\j\b - Johnston reports the arrest of Bligh to Lt-Gov. William Paterson (his senior officer) in Port Dalrymple; Paterson subsequently orders HMS \IPorpoise\b\i to be sent to convey him to Sydney."
"\BFeb 02, \J1808\j\b - Macarthur faces a new trial and (6th) is acquitted."
"\BFeb 06, \J1808\j\b - Capt. Mayhew Folger of the US whaler \ITopaz\b\i discovers, on Pitcairn Is., the last survivor of the \IBounty\b\i mutineers, John Adams (alias Alexander Smith), with a small community of the mutineers' descendants."
"\BFeb 12, \J1808\j\b - Macarthur appointed magistrate and 'Secretary to the Colony'ùits virtual administrator."
"\BFeb 17, \J1808\j\b - D'Arcy Wentworth exonerated by court martial."
"\BFeb 20, \J1809\j\b - Deposed Governor William Bligh boards the \IPorpoise,\b\i agreeing to proceed to England and not return to any part of the colony or interfere with the government. (For various reasons, sailing is delayed.)"
"\BFeb 24, \J1810\j\b - Macquarie issues a proclamation condemning cohabitation and immorality."
"\BFeb 27, \J1810\j\b - Rev. Samuel Marsden returns to Sydney in the transport \IAnne\b\i (197 convicts), accompanied by Rev. Robert Cartwright and Maori chief Ruatara, who had been taken to England."
"\BFeb 12, \J1812\j\b - House of Commons appoints a select committee to consider transportation."
"\BFeb 07, \J1813\j\b - \IIsabella\i\b, bound for London from Sydney with Macquarie's first dispatches, is wrecked on a reef off the Falkland Is. (Crew and passengersùincluding Sir Henry Browne Hayes and Joseph Holtùrescued by HMS \INancy,\i\b 17 May.)"
"\BFeb 10, \J1813\j\b - Col. Thomas Davey leaves Port Jackson for Hobart and (20th) takes up his post as Lt-Governor of Van Diemen's Land."
"\BFeb 04, \J1814\j\b - Second Charter of Justice provides for the establishment of three new civil courtsùGovernor's Court and Supreme Court in NSW, Lt-Governor's Court in Van Diemen's Land."
"\BFeb 07, \J1814\j\b - \IGeneral Hewitt\i\b arrives at Port Jackson with 266 convicts, including Francis Greenway and Joseph Lycett, and a detachment of the 46th Regt to replace the 73rd Regt; passengers include Capt. John Piper, returning to become Naval Officer and Collector of Customs."
"\BFeb 11, \J1814\j\b - Lt-Col. George Molle, commander of the 46th Regt and Lt-Governor of NSW (appointed 20 June \J1813\j), arrives in the \IWindham\i\b with headquarters of the regiment."
"\BFeb 28, \J1814\j\b - Last inhabitants leave Norfolk Is. (which remains unoccupied for next 11 years)."
"\BFeb 21, \J1817\j\b - Hawkesbury River in high flood; two lives lost."
"\BFeb 24, \J1817\j\b - Barron Field arrives in Sydney as a passenger on the transport \ILord Melville\b\i to replace J. H. Bent as judge of the Supreme Court."
"\BFeb 27, \J1819\j\b - Schooner \IYoung Lachlan\b\i seized by convicts in the Derwent. (Apprehended in Java.)"
"\BFeb 29, \J1820\j\b - Gov. Macquarie again asks Earl Bathurst for permission to resign as Governor. (Granted, 15 July.)"
"\BFeb 01, \J1821\j\b - Frederick Goulburn assumes duty as Australia's first officially appointed Colonial Secretary."
"\BFeb 03, \J1821\j\b - Lt-Gen. Sir Thomas Brisbane commissioned as Governor to succeed Macquarie."
"\BFeb 14, \J1821\j\b - Commissioner Bigge leaves Sydney in HMS \IDromedary\b\i to return to the UK."
"\BFeb 17, \J1821\j\b - Solomon Wiseman granted a licence for the Packet Inn on the Hawkesbury (Wiseman's Ferry)."
"\BFeb 15, \J1822\j\b - Macquarie sails for England in the \ISurry."
"\BFeb 09, \J1822\j\b - Francis Cadell born (-\J1879\j)."
"\BFeb 09, \J1823\j\b - St David's Church, Hobart, consecrated (but opened on 25 Dec. \J1819\j)."
"\BFeb 15, \J1823\j\b - Gold discovered by surveyor James McBrien at the Fish River near Bathurstùthe first known discovery, though not made public."
"\BFeb 24, \J1823\j\b - Lt Percy Simpson arrives at Wellington Valley, NSW, with a party of convicts and soldiers to establish an agricultural depot."
"\BFeb 11, \J1824\j\b - St James's Church, Sydney, consecrated by Samuel Marsden."
"\BFeb 17, \J1825\j\b - Ship \IAlmorah,\b\i chartered to bring 'rice, flour, etc.' from Batavia, arrested in Sydney for carrying tea contrary to East India Co. charter."
"\BFeb 19, \J1825\j\b - \ILady Nelson\b\i sails from Fort Dundas and is subsequently captured by Malay pirates and her crew murdered."
"\BFeb 25, \J1825\j\b - Aboriginal outlaws Musquito and Black Jack hanged in Hobart."
"\BFeb 28, \J1825\j\b - Gov. Brisbane orders the removal of the Moreton Bay settlement from Redcliffe to the site of Brisbane. (Move made in May-June.)"
"\BFeb 08, \J1826\j\b - Gov. Arthur suspends J. T. Gellibrand as Attorney-General."
"\BFeb 07, \J1827\j\b - Henry Helyer, exploring for the Van Diemen's Land Co. (to 4 Mar.), discovers the Helyer River, the Surrey Hills, and the Arthur River."
"\BFeb 05, \J1827\j\b - Peter Lalor born (-\J1889\j)."
"\BFeb 06, \J1828\j\b - R. L. Murray founds \IMurray's Austral-Asiatic\b \IReview\b\i (in Hobart)."
"\BFeb 02, \J1829\j\b - Sturt discovers the Darling River, near the present site of Bourke (then traces the Castlereagh River before returning to Sydney, 27 Apr.)."
"\BFeb 09, \J1829\j\b - \ILaunceston Advertiser\b\i founded by J. P. Fawkner."
"\BFeb 07, \J1832\j\b - WA Legislative Council and Executive Council meet for the first time."
"\BFeb 08, \J1832\j\b - Quakers James Backhouse and G. W. Walker arrive in Hobart and (12th) hold the first Australian meeting of the Society of Friends."
"\BFeb 04, \J1833\j\b - Order in council issued in London abolishing the Church and School Corporation, ending Anglican monopoly in NSW."
"\BFeb 05, \J1833\j\b - \IHibernia,\b\i bound for NSW from Ireland, catches fire off the coast of America; 153 people burnt to death."
"\BFeb 18, \J1833\j\b - William Ullathorne arrives in Sydney as Vicar-General of the Catholic Church in Australia."
"\BFeb 08, \J1834\j\b - Gov. Arthur informs the Colonial Office that he has set up a separate establishment at Port Arthur, Tas., for boy convicts, which he names Point Puer."
"\BFeb 08, \J1835\j\b - Board of Commissioners for SA appointed, with Col. Robert Torrens as chairman. (Gazetted, 5 May.)"
"\BFeb 14, \J1836\j\b - William Grant Broughton consecrated as bishop of the newly created Anglican diocese of Australia. (Enthroned in Sydney on 5 June.)"
"\BFeb 24, \J1836\j\b - Independent Order of Odd Fellows formed in Sydney."
"\BFeb 26, \J1837\j\b - Migrant ship \ILady McNaghten\b\i arrives at Port Jackson, 44 children having died of measles and whooping cough and 10 adults from typhus on the way; a further 80 arrivals subsequently die."
"\BFeb 0-, \J1837\j\b - Ben Hall born (-\J1865\j)."
"\BFeb 23, \J1838\j\b - Sir George Gipps arrives in Sydney and next day takes up his duties as Governor of NSW."
"\BFeb 26, \J1838\j\b - Fitzroy River, WA, discovered by the \IBeagle."
"\BFeb 06, \J1839\j\b - J. P. Fawkner launches the \IPort Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser."
"\BFeb 16, \J1839\j\b - Kiama, NSW, proclaimed a town."
"\BFeb 25, \J1839\j\b - George Grey leads an expedition from Shark Bay to Perth (to Apr.)."
"\BFeb 02, \J1840\j\b - P. E. de Strzelecki and James Macarthur begin an exploratory journey to Port Phillip (alt. date 2 Mar.)."
"\BFeb 06, \J1840\j\b - Hobson signs the Treaty of Waitangi with Maori chiefs."
"\BFeb 15, \J1840\j\b - Strzelecki climbs and names Mount Kosciusko (alt. date 12 Mar.)."
"\BFeb 26, \J1840\j\b - HMS \IBuffalo\b\i arrives at Port Jackson with 58 French-Canadian political exiles (others disembarked at Hobart) to be interned near present-day Concord (hence Canada Bay, French Bay, Exile Bay)."
"\BFeb 08, \J1841\j\b - John Fairfax and Charles Kemp buy the \ISydney Herald."
"\BFeb 09, \J1841\j\b - Angus McMillan makes an expedition to Port Albert, near Corner Inlet (to 14th)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1841\j\b - E. J. Eyre, with John Baxter and three Aborigines, leaves Fowler's Bay to attempt a crossing of the Great Australian Bight."
"\BFeb 06, \J1842\j\b - Henry Savery died (50)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1843\j\b - Riots in Parramatta Female Factory; 80 arrested after military called in."
"\BFeb 14, \J1843\j\b - Foundation stone of the Australian Subscription Library's new building in Macquarie St, Sydney, laid by Alexander Macleay."
"\BFeb 23, \J1843\j\b - Old (nominated) Legislative Council of NSW meets for the last time."
"\BFeb 01, \J1844\j\b - Regular monthly sea mail service begins between UK and Sydney."
"\BFeb 07, \J1844\j\b - Maj. Joseph Childs arrives at Norfolk Is. to replace Alexander Maconochie as commandant."
"\BFeb 13, \J1844\j\b - John Knatchbull hanged outside Darlinghurst Gaol for the murder of Ellen Jamieson on 6 Jan."
"\BFeb 13, \J1845\j\b - Leichhardt discovers and names the Isaac River."
"\BFeb 25, \J1845\j\b - George Reid born (-\J1918\j)."
"\BFeb 16, \J1846\j\b - Spanish Benedictine monks Dom Rosendo Salvado and Dom Joseph Serra leave Perth for the Victoria Plains to found an Aboriginal mission (New Norcia)."
"\BFeb 10, \J1846\j\b - James Burns born (-\J1923\j)."
"\BFeb 12, \J1847\j\b - Lt-Col. F. C. Irwin becomes Governor of WA following the death of Andrew Clarke on 11 Feb."
"\BFeb 03, \J1847\j\b - Sir John Eardley-Wilmot died (63)."
"\BFeb 28, \J1847\j\b - Sir George Gipps died (55?)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1848\j\b - Ludwig Leichhardt sets out from Canning station on the Darling Downs in a second attempt to cross Australia from east to west. (Fate of the party remains unknown; last communication from Cogoon on 4 Apr.)."
"\BFeb 17, \J1848\j\b - Louisa Albury (Louisa Lawson) born (-\J1920\j)."
"\BFeb 11, \J1849\j\b - First batch of German migrants arrive in Melbourne in the \IGodeffroy\i\b."
"\BFeb 23, \J1849\j\b - Public meeting in Perth requests that WA be converted into a penal settlement to aid the flagging state of the colony."
"\BFeb 19, \J1850\j\b - Railway between Adelaide and Port Adelaide authorised by the SA Legislative Council."
"\BFeb 09, \J1850\j\b - Elizabeth Macarthur died (82?)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1851\j\b - Australasian League, originated by John West in Launceston to secure the abolition of transportation, constituted in Melbourne."
"\BFeb 02, \J1851\j\b - Maryborough (Qld) proclaimed a town site."
"\BFeb 06, \J1851\j\b - Black Thursdayùbushfires rage from near Melbourne, where shade temperature reaches 47░C at 11 a.m., to Mount Gambier in SA; at least 10 people killed."
"\BFeb 12, \J1851\j\b - E. H. Hargraves discovers gold at Lewis Ponds Creek, near Bathurst."
"\BFeb 10, \J1852\j\b - Supreme Court of Vic. established (William ß Beckett Chief Justice)."
"\BFeb 19, \J1852\j\b - Hovenden Hely and party leave Brisbane to search for Leichhardt's missing expedition."
"\BFeb 19, \J1852\j\b - û Gold discovered at Beechworth, Vic."
"\BFeb 03, \J1853\j\b - Bushranger Captain Melville (Frank McCallum) sentenced to 32 years' gaol at Geelong."
"\BFeb 19, \J1853\j\b - HMS \IHerald\i\b (Capt. H. M. Denham) arrives in Sydney to begin nine years of survey work on the Australian coast."
"\BFeb 20, \J1853\j\b - William Grant Broughton died (64)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1854\j\b - T. S. Mort begins building a dry dock (Mort's Dock) at Balmain, Sydney (completed \J1855\j)."
"\BFeb 22, \J1855\j\b - Trials of the 13 charged with treason at Eureka (to 27 Mar.); all acquitted."
"\BFeb 25, \J1855\j\b - Frederick McCubbin born (û \J1917\j)."
"\BFeb 11, \J1856\j\b - Melbourne Public Library opened."
"\BFeb 26, \J1856\j\b - Phillip Parker King died (64)."
"\BFeb 26, \J1857\j\b - T. G. Gregson replaces William Champ as Premier of Tas."
"\BFeb 01, \J1858\j\b - Captain William Dean in his balloon \IAustralasian\i\b makes the first balloon ascent in Australia at Cremorne Gardens, Melbourne."
"\BFeb 26, \J1858\j\b - Sir Charles FitzRoy died (61)."
"\BFeb 04, \J1859\j\b - Corowa, NSW, gazetted as a town site."
"\BFeb 24, \J1859\j\b - Paddle-steamer \IGemini\i\b reaches Brewarrina on the Darling."
"\BFeb 15, \J1860\j\b - Volunteer corps formed in Qld."
"\BFeb 11, \J1861\j\b - Burke and Wills, with King and Gray, reach the tidal waters of the Flinders River at the Gulf of Carpentaria. (Begin return journey two days later.)"
"\BFeb 25, \J1861\j\b - G. E. Dalrymple leads an expedition from Rockhampton to found Bowen, Qld. (Town proclaimed 12 Apr.)"
"\BFeb 21, \J1862\j\b - Moree, NSW, gazetted as a town site. (First land sale 21 June.)"
"\BFeb 28, \J1862\j\b - J. S. Hampton becomes Governor of WA."
"\BFeb 04, \J1862\j\b - G. E. ("Chinese") Morrison born (û \J1920\j)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1863\j\b - û Macleay River, NSW, floods, causing ten deaths."
"\BFeb 25, \J1864\j\b - Work begins on Qld's first railway line, from Ipswich to Toowoomba."
"\BFeb 17, \J1864\j\b - A. B. ("Banjo") Paterson born (û \J1941\j)."
"\BFeb 03, \J1865\j\b - Charles Cowper again becomes Premier of NSW following the defeat of the Martin government."
"\BFeb 01, \J1866\j\b - Arthur Macalister becomes Premier of Qld on the resignation of R. G. W. Herbert."
"\BFeb 03, \J1866\j\b - Australian sovereigns become legal tender in the UK."
"\BFeb 26, \J1866\j\b - Gov. Darling recalled for not keeping aloof from personal conflicts. (Leaves Melbourne in May.)"
"\BFeb 10, \J1867\j\b - Robert Garran born (-\J1957\j)."
"\BFeb 28, \J1868\j\b - Qld's Crown Lands Alienation Act opens up land for closer settlement."
"\BFeb 01, \J1869\j\b - Brisbane Grammar School officially opened."
"\BFeb 05, \J1869\j\b - G. W. Goyder arrives at Port Darwin to survey the area for the town of Palmerston (renamed Darwin in \J1911\j)."
"\BFeb 05, \J1869\j\b - Welcome Stranger nugget (2,520 oz) found near Dunolly, Vic."
"\BFeb 16, \J1869\j\b - Sir James Fergusson becomes Governor of SA."
"\BFeb 18, \J1869\j\b - Transported Fenian J. B. O'Reilly escapes from Fremantle in the American whaler \IGazelle.\b\i (Subsequently taken to the United States.)"
"\BFeb 10, \J1871\j\b - First steam railway in Tas., from Deloraine to Launceston, completed by a private company. (Taken over by the government on 31 Oct. \J1873\j.)"
"\BFeb 26, \J1872\j\b - Brig \IMaria,\b\i en route to New Guinea with 70 prospectors, runs onto a reef near Cardwell, north Qld; 21 drown and 14 are killed by Aborigines."
"\BFeb 26, \J1872\j\b - (Survivors, including Lawrence Hargrave, rescued by John Moresby in HMS \IBasilisk.\b\i)"
"\BFeb 26, \J1872\j\b - Four members of the Marist Brothers Catholic teaching order arrive in Sydney. (Open St Patrick's School 8 Apr.)"
"\BFeb 22, \J1872\j\b - John Shaw Neilson born (-\J1942\j)."
"\BFeb 10, \J1873\j\b - Coalminers in NSW gain a reduction of working hours from 12 to 10╜ a day after a six-week strike."
"\BFeb 20, \J1873\j\b - Capt. John Moresby in HMS \IBasilisk\b\i discovers and names Port Moresby."
"\BFeb 06, \J1874\j\b - Act passed in NSW reducing the term of the Legislative Assembly from five years to three years."
"\BFeb 01, \J1874\j\b - Alexander Harris died (68)."
"\BFeb 09, \J1875\j\b - John Robertson replaces Henry Parkes as Premier of NSW."
"\BFeb 24, \J1875\j\b - SS \IGothenburg\b\i wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef near Flinders Passage with the loss of 102 lives; 27 survivors."
"\BFeb 08, \J1876\j\b - Debate in Vic. Legislative Assembly prolonged by Graham Berry's followers without intermission until late on 10th (which introduces the term \Istonewall\b\i into the English language); Premier McCulloch finally introduces a 'gag' motion."
"\BFeb 20, \J1876\j\b - Submarine cable connected between NSW and NZ."
"\BFeb 23, \J1876\j\b - Cyclone causes great property damage in Bowen, Qld."
"\BFeb 08, \J1879\j\b - Kelly Gang raid Jerilderie, NSW, capture police, and (10th) rob the Bank of NSW of more than ú2,000. (Rewards increased to ú2,000 each.)"
"\BFeb 25, \J1879\j\b - Alexander Forrest leads an expedition from Roebourne, WA, to explore to the north-west through the Kimberley region. (Explores and names King Leopold Range, discovers the Ord River [24 July], and reaches Darwin on 7 Oct.)"
"\BFeb 22, \J1879\j\b - Norman Lindsay born (û \J1969\j)."
"\BFeb 12, \J1880\j\b - Sydney Town Hall (vestibule of present building) officially opened (having been in use since July \J1875\j)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1880\j\b - NSW parliament passes Henry Parkes's Public Instruction Act, providing for the establishment of government high schools, full responsibility for primary education, and the withdrawal of all state aid to Church schools (from 31 Dec. \J1882\j)."
"\BFeb 03, \J1881\j\b - Railway from Sydney reaches Albury."
"\BFeb 17, \J1881\j\b - First officers of the Salvation Army, Capt. Thomas Sutherland and his wife, arrive in Adelaide. (Australian corps formed soon after.)"
"\BFeb 03, \J1881\j\b - John Gould died (76)."
"\BFeb 14, \J1882\j\b - Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne, opens in temporary premises, with W. H. Fitchett as principal."
"\BFeb 19, \J1883\j\b - Sir William Robinson becomes Governor of SA."
"\BFeb 27, \J1883\j\b - Port Kembla, NSW, and Mount Kembla coalmine inaugurated."
"\BFeb 09, \J1883\j\b - Edmund Blacket died (65)."
"\BFeb 08, \J1884\j\b - R. L. ("Snowy") Baker born (- \J1953\j)."
"\BFeb 03, \J1885\j\b - Roseworthy Agricultural College, SA, opened."
"\BFeb 11, \J1885\j\b - News of General Gordon's death reaches Sydney. Next day, NSW offers a contingent of volunteer troops for service in the Sudan."
"\BFeb 07, \J1885\j\b - George Sorlie born (- \J1948\j)."
"\BFeb 08, \J1886\j\b - Methodist Ladies' College (Oakburn College) opens in Launceston."
"\BFeb 09, \J1886\j\b - A board of arbitration (first of its kind) chosen by Employers' Union and Trades Hall Council settles wharf labourers' dispute; eight-hour day granted."
"\BFeb 18, \J1886\j\b - Duncan Gillies becomes Premier of Vic., replacing James Service."
"\BFeb 26, \J1886\j\b - Sir Patrick Jennings replaces Sir John Robertson as Premier of NSW."
"\BFeb 04, \J1887\j\b - Qld's railways reach the NSW border at Wallangarra."
"\BFeb 14, \J1887\j\b - Chaffey Brothers make an agreement with the SA government to establish an irrigation system at Renmark. (Pumps operating by end of year.)"
"\BFeb 02, \J1889\j\b - Election held in NSW; Free Traders win narrowly; new members include Charles Dickens's son Edward (Protectionist, Wilcannia)."
"\BFeb 09, \J1889\j\b - Peter Lalor died (62)."
"\BFeb 23, \J1889\j\b - Percy Leason born (- \J1959\j)."
"\BFeb 04, \J1890\j\b - Railway opened to Warrnambool, Vic."
"\BFeb 06, \J1890\j\b - Representatives of all Australian colonial governments and NZ meet in Melbourne (to 14th) to discuss Parkes' federation proposals."
"\BFeb 28, \J1890\j\b - Passenger steamer \IQuetta\i sinks after striking an uncharted rock near Torres Strait; more than 130 lives lost."
"\BFeb 15, \J1891\j\b - Henry Vande Sluice (Roy Rene) born (- \J1954\j)."
"\BFeb 04, \J1892\j\b - Railway from Strahan to Zeehan, Tas., opened."
"\BFeb 10, \J1892\j\b - Run on the head office of the Savings Bank of New South Wales in Sydney (to 12th), depositors withdrawing their funds in gold."
"\BFeb 16, \J1892\j\b - William Shiels becomes Premier of Vic. after James Munro resigns and becomes Agent-General in London to escape creditors of his collapsed Real Estate Bank."
"\BFeb 02, \J1893\j\b - Disastrous record floods in south-east Qld (to 21st); Brisbane inundated (6th); Indooroopilly railway bridge and Victoria Bridge swept away."
"\BFeb 19, \J1894\j\b - Steam trams begin operating to Bondi, Sydney. (Able to reach 65 km/h, they give rise to the phrase 'shoot through like a Bondi tram'.)"
"\BFeb 24, \J1894\j\b - Douglas Copland born (-\J1971\j)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1895\j\b - NSW, Vic., and SA standardise their times, NSW and Vic. on EST, SA nine hours ahead of GMT (changed to\b\i 9╜ hours ahead of GMTùCentral Standard Timeùin \J1899\j)."
"\BFeb 15, \J1895\j\b - Municipality proclaimed at Hannan's Find, WA, and named Kalgoorlie."
"\BFeb 13, \J1896\j\b - Steam ferry \IPearl\b\i sinks while conveying passengers across the flooded Brisbane River; number drowned uncertain, but 28 bodies are subsequently recovered."
"\BFeb 08, \J1897\j\b - Scotch College opens in Perth."
"\BFeb 09, \J1897\j\b - Charles Kingsford Smith born (-\J1935\j)."
"\BFeb 05, \J1898\j\b - Melbourne officially connected to the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works sewerage system."
"\BFeb 09, \J1898\j\b - Barque \IAtacama\b\i founders on its way from Sydney to San Francisco; 13 lives lost, and 5 rescued after several days in a boat."
"\BFeb 10, \J1898\j\b - Judith Anderson born (-\J1992\j)."
"\BFeb 12, \J1898\j\b - Sali Yakubowitsch (Sali Herman) born (-\J1993\j)."
"\BFeb 21, \J1899\j\b - Sir George Bowen died (77)."
"\BFeb 22, \J1899\j\b - Ian Clunies Ross born (-\J1959\j)."
"\BFeb 22, \J1900\j\b - Whaling operations out of Hobart cease."
"\BFeb 28, \J1900\j\b - Detachments of Citizen's Bushmen's Corps from NSW and SA leave for South Africa. (Detachments from Tas., Vic., and WA leave during March.)"
"\BFeb 12, \J1901\j\b - Alexander Peacock becomes Premier of Vic. following Sir George Turner's resignation to become federal Treasurer."
"\BFeb 15, \J1901\j\b - George Throssell becomes Premier of WA, Sir John Forrest having resigned to become a Commonwealth minister."
"\BFeb 22, \J1901\j\b - Ken G. Hall born (û \J1994\j)."
"\BFeb 19, \J1902\j\b - First battalion of Commonwealth troops (wearing the forerunner of the rising sun badge) embark for South Africa."
"\BFeb 27, \J1902\j\b - Lt Harry (Breaker) Morant and Lt P. J. Handcock executed by firing squad outside Pretoria, in the Transvaal, for shooting Boer prisoners."
"\BFeb 22, \J1902\j\b - Robert D. FitzGerald born (û \J1987\j)."
"\BFeb 09, \J1903\j\b - Sir Charles Gavan Duffy died (86)."
"\BFeb 16, \J1904\j\b - Thomas Bent succeeds W. H. Irvine as Premier of Vic."
"\BFeb 10, \J1905\j\b - Justice R. E. O'Connor appointed first president of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration."
"\BFeb 15, \J1905\j\b - First state secondary school in Vic., the Continuation School (later Melbourne High School), opens in Melbourne."
"\BFeb 06, \J1906\j\b - Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving ClubùAustralia's (and the world's) first surf lifesaving clubùfounded in Sydney."
"\BFeb 06, \J1906\j\b - James Bonwick died (88)."
"\BFeb 24, \J1906\j\b - H. C. Coombs born"
"\BFeb 08, \J1907\j\b - Jack Davey born (û \J1952\j)."
"\BFeb 17, \J1907\j\b - Marjorie Lawrence born (û \J1979\j)."
"\BFeb 18, \J1908\j\b - William Kidston resumes the premiership of Qld following an election on 5 Feb."
"\BFeb 14, \J1908\j\b - David Syme died (80)."
"\BFeb 23, \J1908\j\b - William McMahon born (û \J1988\j)."
"\BFeb 05, \J1909\j\b - Fisher government orders the building of three destroyers in Britain for an Australian naval squadron."
"\BFeb 11, \J1909\j\b - Eastern Suburbs Technical College (now Swinburne Institute of Technology) opens in Melbourne."
"\BFeb 09, \J1909\j\b - Charles Conder died (40)."
"\BFeb 13, \J1909\j\b - R. M. Ansett born (û \J1981\j)."
"\BFeb 12, \J1910\j\b - Lord Kitchener makes his report on Australia's defences."
"\BFeb 02, \J1911\j\b - Western Australia adopts a compulsory preferential voting system (optional preferential having been in force since \J1907\j)."
"\BFeb 07, \J1911\j\b - Digby Denham replaces William Kidston as Premier of Qld."
"\BFeb 16, \J1911\j\b - University of Western Australia established by act of parliament. (Senate appointed 13 Feb. \J1912\j; lectures begin 31 Mar. \J1913\j.)"
"\BFeb 16, \J1911\j\b - Hal Porter born (û \J1984\j)."
"\BFeb 10, \J1912\j\b - Election in SA results in a defeat for Labor; John Verran resigns (16th), and A. H. Peake becomes Premier again (17th)."
"\BFeb 10, \J1912\j\b - û Queensland's first state high schools open, in Bundaberg, Charters Towers, Gympie, Mackay, Mount Morgan, and Warwick."
"\BFeb 07, \J1912\j\b - Russell Drysdale born (û \J1981\j)."
"\BFeb 18, \J1913\j\b - Louis Becke died (57)."
"\BFeb 10, \J1914\j\b - Geelong Grammar School opens at Corio."
"\BFeb 16, \J1914\j\b - Court of Industrial Arbitration determines the first NSW basic wage."
"\BFeb 01, \J1915\j\b - Coober Pedy, SA, opal field discovered."
"\BFeb 10, \J1915\j\b - Royal Australian Naval College transferred to Jervis Bay."
"\BFeb 06, \J1915\j\b - Donald Friend born (û \J1989\j)."
"\BFeb 08, \J1916\j\b - Presbyterian Ladies' College opens in Pymble, Sydney."
"\BFeb 14, \J1916\j\b - Troops from Casula and Liverpool army camps in NSW mutiny; one man shot dead and six wounded in a riot at Sydney's Central Station."
"\BFeb 15, \J1916\j\b - Launcestonû Hobart express train crashes at Campania, Tas; four killed and 39 injured."
"\BFeb 07, \J1917\j\b - W. M. Hughes's National Labor group merges with the Liberal Party to form the Nationalist (or National) Party."
"\BFeb 28, \J1919\j\b - û Influenza epidemic causes the closure of theatres, libraries, churches, and schools in NSW; wearing of masks made compulsory."
"\BFeb 19, \J1920\j\b - During the Governor's absence, Lt-Governor William Lennon appoints 14 new members to Qld's Legislative Council, allowing the government to pass legislation increasing rents paid by pastoral companies."
"\BFeb 05, \J1921\j\b - Work begins on the Yallourn, Vic., power station site."
"\BFeb 28, \J1921\j\b - Essington Lewis succeeds G. D. Delprat as general manager of BHP."
"\BFeb 02, \J1923\j\b - Hughes resigns the prime ministership in favour of S. M. Bruce, who forms a Nationalist-Country Party coalition government with Earle Page (9th)."
"\BFeb 02, \J1923\j\b - û Silver-lead deposits found at Mt Isa, Qld, by John Campbell Miles."
"\BFeb 02, \J1923\j\b - û Agreement signed between UK and WA governments for the settlement of groups of British migrants in the south-west of the state."
"\BFeb 01, \J1923\j\b - John Perceval born"
"\BFeb 01, \J1924\j\b - Australian Loan Council meets for the first time."
"\BFeb 27, \J1924\j\b - HMS \IHood\i\b, the biggest battleship afloat, arrives at Fremantle with five light cruisers at the beginning of a visit to Australian ports. (Sails from Sydney on 20 Apr.)"
"\BFeb 01, \J1925\j\b - Melbourne Town Hall gutted by fire."
"\BFeb 21, \J1925\j\b - First election held for the Greater Brisbane Council."
"\BFeb 24, \J1925\j\b - Adelaide's first commercial radio station, 5DN, begins broadcasting."
"\BFeb 26, \J1925\j\b - W. N. Gillies becomes Premier of Qld after the resignation of E. G. Theodore to contest a seat in federal parliament."
"\BFeb 15, \J1926\j\b - Radio station 2GB begins broadcasting in Sydney."
"\BFeb 22, \J1928\j\b - Bert Hinkler lands at Darwin in his Avro Avian after a record-breaking (15╜ days) solo flight from London (first solo flight from the UK to Australia)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1929\j\b - Timber workers go on strike (to Oct.) over a new award increasing their working hours from 44 to 48."
"\BFeb 05, \J1929\j\b - Miners' Federation rejects a government proposal for a cut in wages as part of a plan to reduce coal prices."
"\BFeb 15, \J1929\j\b - Mine owners in northern NSW announce their intention to reduce wages by 12╜%; miners refuse to accept this and are locked out (1 Mar.ùto 3 June \J1930\j)."
"\BFeb 10, \J1930\j\b - Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) established in Melbourne."
"\BFeb 12, \J1930\j\b - Spencer Street Bridge, Melbourne, opened."
"\BFeb 01, \J1931\j\b - All wages controlled by the Commonwealth Arbitration Court reduced by 10%."
"\BFeb 01, \J1931\j\b - Cyclones (to 8th) cause flooding from Innisfail to Brisbane, where more than a thousand houses are inundated and two men drown."
"\BFeb 04, \J1931\j\b - J. A. Lyons and J. E. Fenton resign from cabinet in protest against the reinstatement of Theodore."
"\BFeb 06, \J1931\j\b - Premiers' Conference (to 26th); Treasurer Theodore and NSW Premier J. T. Lang put forward differing financial plans."
"\BFeb 07, \J1931\j\b - Royal Military College moved from Duntroon to Victoria Barracks in Sydney as an economy measure. (Returns to Duntroon Feb. \J1937\j.)"
"\BFeb 16, \J1931\j\b - \IDaily Guardian\b\i (Sydney) incorporated into the \IDaily Telegraph.\i"
"\BFeb 16, \J1931\j\b - Eric Campbell forms the New Guard in Sydney."
"\BFeb 18, \J1931\j\b - Sir Douglas Mawson takes possession of MacRobertson Land, Antarctica."
"\BFeb 23, \J1931\j\b - Dame Nellie Melba died (69)."
"\BFeb 24, \J1931\j\b - Barry Oakley born"
"\BFeb 04, \J1932\j\b - Severe bushfires in Vic., especially in Gippsland; nine lives lost."
"\BFeb 07, \J1933\j\b - Britain's Antarctic claims between 45░\b\i and 160░\b\i east longitude ceded to Australia. (Formally become Australian Antarctic Territory in \J1936\j.)"
"\BFeb 13, \J1933\j\b - R. S. Richards replaces Lionel Hill as Premier of SA."
"\BFeb 15, \J1934\j\b - Graham Kennedy born"
"\BFeb 17, \J1934\j\b - Barry Humphries born"
"\BFeb 26, \J1935\j\b - QEA begins its first scheduled flight to an overseas airport (Darwin hitherto being its terminus), carrying mail to Singapore to be taken on to London by Imperial Airways."
"\BFeb 01, \J1936\j\b - \ICatholic Worker,\b\i edited by B. A. Santamaria, begins publication in Melbourne."
"\BFeb 17, \J1936\j\b - R. M. Ansett begins Ansett Airways with a service between Melbourne and Hamilton, Vic."
"\BFeb 24, \J1936\j\b - Special unity conference of the Labor Party rescinds the \J1931\j expulsion of J. T. Lang and his followers; NSW state party again becomes a branch of the federal ALP."
"\BFeb 27, \J1936\j\b - Ron Barassi born"
"\BFeb 15, \J1937\j\b - Explosion at the State Coal Mine, Wonthaggi, Vic; 13 miners killed."
"\BFeb 19, \J1937\j\b - Stinson airliner crashes in Lamington National Park, near the Qld-NSW border; five killed. (Plane and two survivors found a week later by bushman Bernard O'Reilly.)"
"\BFeb 14, \J1937\j\b - Walter Burley Griffin died (60)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1938\j\b - Herb Elliott born"
"\BFeb 13, \J1939\j\b - Andrew Peacock born"
"\BFeb 17, \J1940\j\b - Marilyn Jones born"
"\BFeb 27, \J1940\j\b - Sir Hubert Murray died (78)."
"\BFeb 05, \J1941\j\b - Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) authorised."
"\BFeb 06, \J1941\j\b - Australian forces take Benghazi."
"\BFeb 20, \J1941\j\b - Training period for the militia doubled."
"\BFeb 22, \J1941\j\b - Australian Newsprint Mills at Boyer, Tas., begin producing newsprint."
"\BFeb 05, \J1941\j\b - A. B. ("Banjo") Paterson died (76)."
"\BFeb 03, \J1942\j\b - Australian forces on Ambon surrender to the Japanese. Aerial bombardment of Port Moresby begins."
"\BFeb 15, \J1942\j\b - Singapore falls to the Japanese; more than 15,000 Australians, mainly of the 8th Division, imprisoned; Gen. Gordon Bennett escapes."
"\BFeb 17, \J1942\j\b - Curtin cables London demanding the return of the AIF 6th and 7th Divisions from the Middle East to Australia. Federal cabinet orders complete mobilisation of Australia's human and material resources."
"\BFeb 19, \J1942\j\b - Darwin bombed (the first of more than 60 air attacks); eight ships sunk in the harbour and some 240 people killed."
"\BFeb 23, \J1942\j\b - Main Australian force on Timor surrenders to the Japanese."
"\BFeb 26, \J1942\j\b - Allied Works Council established."
"\BFeb 03, \J1943\j\b - Commonwealth government establishes the Universities Commission and a scheme of scholarships for needy students."
"\BFeb 05, \J1943\j\b - Australian troops repulse the Japanese attack on Wau after reinforcements are flown in under fire."
"\BFeb 08, \J1943\j\b - SS \IIron Knight\i\b torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off Twofold Bay; 33 lives lost."
"\BFeb 19, \J1943\j\b - Legislation passed enabling conscripts to be sent outside Australian territories as far north as the Equator in the South-West Pacific Area."
"\BFeb 19, \J1943\j\b - Japanese aircraft flies over Sydney, causing an alert and anti-aircraft fire."
"\BFeb 19, \J1943\j\b - û AIF 9th Division returns to Australia from the Middle East."
"\BFeb 01, \J1944\j\b - Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme begins operating."
"\BFeb 14, \J1944\j\b - Strike by southern coalminers in NSW (to 15 Mar.)."
"\BFeb 14, \J1944\j\b - û Bushfires burning since Dec. \J1943\j in the Western District, Gippsland, and Yallourn areas of Vic. cause 51 deaths."
"\BFeb 21, \J1945\j\b - R. G. Menzies formally notifies parliament of his party's change of name from United Australia Party to Liberal Party of Australia."
"\BFeb 13, \J1946\j\b - British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), under an Australian commander-in-chief (the first being Lt-Gen. John Northcott), begins duty in Japan."
"\BFeb 18, \J1946\j\b - Archbishop Gilroy of Sydney becomes the first Australian-born cardinal."
"\BFeb 18, \J1946\j\b - û Australian Council of the World Council of Churches constituted."
"\BFeb 06, \J1947\j\b - South Pacific Commission established at a meeting in Canberra of representatives from Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK, and USA. (Agreement ratified on 29 July \J1948\j.)"
"\BFeb 06, \J1947\j\b - James McGirr succeeds W. J. McKell as Premier of NSW."
"\BFeb 15, \J1947\j\b - Referendum held in NSW on hotel closing hours; majority in favour of 6 p.m."
"\BFeb 03, \J1948\j\b - Qld railway workers strike (to 2 Apr.) for increased pay; state government responds by legislating to give the government and police power to deal with emergencies. (State of emergency declared on 27th.)"
"\BFeb 16, \J1948\j\b - NT Legislative Council sits for the first time."
"\BFeb 25, \J1948\j\b - Robert Cosgrove resumes the premiership of Tas., having been acquitted of bribery, conspiracy, and corruption charges."
"\BFeb 12, \J1948\j\b - Sir Isaac Isaacs died (92)."
"\BFeb 26, \J1949\j\b - Severe cyclone damages Rockhampton, Gladstone, and Bundaberg (Qld); 4 lives lost."
"\BFeb 26, \J1949\j\b - û Commonwealth government legislates to establish an Australian shipping line."
"\BFeb 08, \J1950\j\b - Petrol rationing finally ends."
"\BFeb 09, \J1950\j\b - E. G. Theodore died (65)."
"\BFeb 19, \J1951\j\b - Melbourne prostitute Jean Lee and her two pimps are hanged in Melbourne for the torture and murder of a 73-year-old bookmaker."
"\BFeb 21, \J1951\j\b - Pensioner Medical Service begins, providing all pensioners with free medical care."
"\BFeb 24, \J1951\j\b - Train and bus collide at a level crossing at Horsham, Vic; 11 killed."
"\BFeb 14, \J1953\j\b - Labor wins office in WA election; A. R. G. Hawke becomes Premier (sworn in on 23 Feb.)."
"\BFeb 03, \J1954\j\b - Queen Elizabeth II, the first reigning monarch to visit Australia, arrives in Sydney with Prince Philip for a visit to all states (to 1 Apr.)."
"\BFeb 20, \J1954\j\b - NSW experiences its worst cyclone (to 22nd), which causes disastrous flooding of northern rivers and the deaths of 26 people; sustained and widespread flooding also occurs in Qld, where at least 10 lives are lost and Rockhampton is cut off."
"\BFeb 01, \J1955\j\b - Six o'clock closing of hotels in NSW ends; bars allowed to open till 10 p.m. (with, for some time, a break from 6.30 to 7.30)."
"\BFeb 07, \J1955\j\b - Australia's first aluminium plant, at Bell Bay, Tas., begins production."
"\BFeb 19, \J1955\j\b - Labor retains office in a tied election in Tas., in which the first women (Liberals Mabel Miller and Amelia Best) are elected to the House of Assembly."
"\BFeb 22, \J1955\j\b - First power generated by the Snowy Mountains schemeùfrom the Guthega power stationùis fed into the NSW electricity system."
"\BFeb 23, \J1955\j\b - First meeting of SEATO council held in Bangkok."
"\BFeb 25, \J1955\j\b - Disastrous floods in northern NSW; more than 2,000 homes flooded in Maitland and about 100 swept away; at least 22 people drown."
"\BFeb 25, \J1955\j\b - û Adelaide's new airport at West Beach opens."
"\BFeb 25, \J1955\j\b - û British Petroleum's refinery at Kwinana, WA, comes into operation."
"\BFeb 10, \J1955\j\b - Greg Norman born"
"\BFeb 09, \J1956\j\b - Floods in NSW central districts, and in Vic. and north-east Tas. (to Mar.)."
"\BFeb 23, \J1956\j\b - Shearers begin a four-month strike over a reduction in wage rates."
"\BFeb 27, \J1957\j\b - Robert de Castella born"
"\BFeb 14, \J1958\j\b - Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother arrives in Canberra to begin a visit to all states (to 7 Mar.)."
"\BFeb 22, \J1958\j\b - Fortnightly journal the \IObserver\i\b begins publication in Sydney (û \J1961\j)."
"\BFeb 17, \J1958\j\b - Hugh McCrae died (81)."
"\BFeb 12, \J1959\j\b - Evangelist Billy Graham arrives in Sydney to begin his first crusade in Australia (to 31 May)."
"\BFeb 16, \J1959\j\b - Cyclone Connie, the most powerful cyclone for forty years, causes severe damage and the death of one man at Bowen, Qld."
"\BFeb 23, \J1959\j\b - National Heart Foundation formed at a conference in Canberra."
"\BFeb 01, \J1960\j\b - Australian Council of Churches holds its first national conference."
"\BFeb 02, \J1960\j\b - Viscount Dunrossil succeeds Lord Slim as Governor-General."
"\BFeb 10, \J1960\j\b - H. V. Evatt resigns as leader of the federal opposition and (15th) becomes Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court."
"\BFeb 23, \J1960\j\b - Import licensing removed from 90% of all imported goods."
"\BFeb 26, \J1960\j\b - Seven people die when a bridge collapses under a train at Bogantungan, Qld."
"\BFeb 01, \J1961\j\b - Commonwealth Matrimonial Causes Act of \J1959\j comes into operation unifying state divorce laws."
"\BFeb 25, \J1961\j\b - Last trams run in Sydney."
"\BFeb 20, \J1961\j\b - Percy Grainger died (78)."
"\BFeb 18, \J1963\j\b - Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive in Australia for a visit to all states (û 27 Mar.) and to attend Canberra's jubilee celebrations."
"\BFeb 03, \J1964\j\b - Double-deck carriages begin trial runs on Sydney's suburban railway."
"\BFeb 10, \J1964\j\b - Destroyer HMAS \IVoyager\i\b sinks after being cut in two by the aircraft carrier HMAS \IMelbourne\i\b in a collision off Jervis Bay; 82 lives lost."
"\BFeb 25, \J1964\j\b - Fire destroys Sydney's Lyceum Theatre."
"\BFeb 12, \J1964\j\b - Arthur W. Upfield died (73)."
"\BFeb 11, \J1965\j\b - Mt Isa Mines suspends all operations."
"\BFeb 18, \J1965\j\b - Gas (later, oil) struck in Bass Strait from EssoûBHP's Barracouta well."
"\BFeb 20, \J1965\j\b - Brand government re-elected in WA."
"\BFeb 20, \J1965\j\b - Duke of Edinburgh visits Australia (to 26th)."
"\BFeb 22, \J1965\j\b - Royal Australian Mint opened in Canberra by Prince Philip. (Begins producing the first Australian-made decimal coins.)"
"\BFeb 22, \J1965\j\b - û Charles Perkins leads a freedom ride through NSW in an attempt to end Aboriginal segregation."
"\BFeb 01, \J1966\j\b - Hotel trading hours in Vic. extended from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.05% becomes a criminal offence."
"\BFeb 03, \J1967\j\b - Ronald Ryan, the last person executed in Australia, is hanged in Melbourne for killing a warder while escaping from Pentridge Gaol on 9 Dec. \J1965\j."
"\BFeb 07, \J1967\j\b - Bushfires ravage south-east Tas., penetrating suburban Hobart; more than 50 people killed and more than 3,000 made homeless."
"\BFeb 08, \J1967\j\b - E. G. Whitlam replaces Arthur Calwell as leader of the federal ALP."
"\BFeb 24, \J1967\j\b - Princess Alexandra visits Australia (to 26 Mar.)."
"\BFeb 07, \J1967\j\b - David Unaipon died (94)."
"\BFeb 24, \J1968\j\b - Gorton, having resigned from the Senate, wins the by-election for Harold Holt's vacant seat."
"\BFeb 24, \J1968\j\b - Askin government re-elected in NSW."
"\BFeb 25, \J1968\j\b - Report of the second \IVoyager\i\b royal commission clears \IMelbourne's\i\b commanding officer (Capt. R. J. Robertson) of any blame and places responsibility for the disaster on the \IVoyager.\i\b "
"\BFeb 25, \J1968\j\b - û Twenty Australian soldiers killed and 80 wounded in Operation Coburg following the Tet offensive in Vietnam."
"\BFeb 14, \J1968\j\b - Dorothea Mackellar died (82)."
"\BFeb 21, \J1968\j\b - Lord (Howard) Florey died (69)."
"\BFeb 07, \J1969\j\b - Sydneyû Melbourne express train \ISouthern Aurora\i\b collides head-on with a goods train at Violet Town, Vic; nine killed."
"\BFeb 23, \J1970\j\b - \IIndian Pacific\i\b train makes its inaugural transcontinental journey (û 26th)."
"\BFeb 28, \J1970\j\b - Nine Australians killed and 29 wounded in three incidents in the Long Hai mountains of Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam."
"\BFeb 27, \J1970\j\b - Sir Edward Hallstrom died (83)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1971\j\b - Australian Industry Development Corporation begins operations."
"\BFeb 02, \J1971\j\b - J. D. Anthony succeeds Sir John McEwen as federal Country Party leader."
"\BFeb 05, \J1971\j\b - Mining investment group Mineral Securities (Aust.) Ltd crashes."
"\BFeb 07, \J1971\j\b - \INational Times\i\b begins publication in Sydney. (Becomes the broadsheet [\INational\i\b] \ITimes on Sunday\i\b in \J1986\j.)"
"\BFeb 13, \J1971\j\b - Askin government re-elected in NSW with a reduced majority."
"\BFeb 20, \J1971\j\b - Labor wins office in WA election; John Tonkin becomes Premier."
"\BFeb 28, \J1972\j\b - û Women's Electoral Lobby formed."
"\BFeb 10, \J1973\j\b - Australia's first legal casino opens at Wrest Point, Hobart."
"\BFeb 18, \J1973\j\b - International Eucharistic Congress held in Melbourne (to 25th)."
"\BFeb 28, \J1973\j\b - Bill introduced into federal parliament reducing the voting age in federal elections from 21 to 18."
"\BFeb 09, \J1975\j\b - Attorney-General Lionel Murphy resigns to become a High Court judge."
"\BFeb 26, \J1975\j\b - Legislation passed abolishing appeals to the Privy Council on High Court decisions having no federal context."
"\BFeb 27, \J1975\j\b - NSW Premier Lewis breaks convention by replacing Murphy in the Senate with a non-Labor nominee (Cleaver Bunton)."
"\BFeb 08, \J1976\j\b - Gladys Moncrieff died (83)."
"\BFeb 14, \J1977\j\b - Escaped convict Edwin Eastwood, gaoled for the Faraday school kidnapping in \J1972\j, kidnaps nine schoolchildren and their teacher at Woreen, Vic. (Arrested after a high-speed chase in an escape attempt with the hostages in a van.)"
"\BFeb 19, \J1977\j\b - Court government re-elected in WA."
"\BFeb 09, \J1978\j\b - Sir John Kerr appointed ambassador to Unesco. (Resigns before taking up the position, following public opposition.)"
"\BFeb 10, \J1978\j\b - Unions involved in the uranium industry allow existing contracts to be honoured but ban any new mining until safeguards established."
"\BFeb 13, \J1978\j\b - Bomb explodes outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, where Commonwealth Heads of Government are meeting; two council workers and a policeman killed."
"\BFeb 08, \J1979\j\b - Finance company Associated Securities Ltd goes into receivership."
"\BFeb 12, \J1979\j\b - Harry M. Miller's Computicket organisation collapses."
"\BFeb 15, \J1979\j\b - Don Dunstan resigns as Premier of SA because of ill health; Des Corcoran replaces him as Premier."
"\BFeb 21, \J1980\j\b - Thirteen people die when a Beechcraft plane crashes at Sydney Airport attempting an emergency landing after take-off."
"\BFeb 23, \J1980\j\b - Court government re-elected in WA."
"\BFeb 08, \J1981\j\b - Headless and fingerless body of Kim Barry found on a cliff ledge at Jamberoo, NSW. (Graham Gene Potter subsequently arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder.)"
"\BFeb 10, \J1981\j\b - International airport opened at Townsville."
"\BFeb 11, \J1981\j\b - Sir Garfield Barwick retires as Chief Justice of the High Court and is succeeded by Sir Harry Gibbs."
"\BFeb 14, \J1981\j\b - Australia withdraws diplomatic recognition of the Pol Pot regime in Kampuchea."
"\BFeb 20, \J1981\j\b - Alice Springs coroner Denis Barritt finds that a dingo killed Azaria Chamberlain."
"\BFeb 02, \J1982\j\b - Lindy Chamberlain committed for trial for the murder of her baby daughter, Azaria. (Found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, 29 Oct.)"
"\BFeb 06, \J1982\j\b - Fairlea Women's Prison at Fairfield, Vic., extensively damaged by fire; three killed."
"\BFeb 03, \J1983\j\b - Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser obtains a double dissolution of parliament; Bob Hawke replaces Bill Hayden as leader of the Labor Party."
"\BFeb 08, \J1983\j\b - Severe dust storm envelops Melbourne in darkness and deposits 11,000 tonnes of topsoil on the city."
"\BFeb 16, \J1983\j\b - Ash Wednesday bushfires in Vic. and SA result in the loss of 72 lives and the destruction of more than 2,000 houses."
"\BFeb 19, \J1983\j\b - Labor wins election in WA; Brian Burke becomes Premier."
"\BFeb 21, \J1983\j\b - ACTU endorses the prices and incomes accord."
"\BFeb 02, \J1984\j\b - Melbourne \IAge\i publishes extracts from tapes of phone taps, made by members of the NSW Police Department, incriminating an unnamed judge."
"\BFeb 22, \J1984\j\b - High Court dismisses Lindy Chamberlain's appeal against her conviction and life sentence for the murder of her baby daughter Azaria."
"\BFeb 01, \J1985\j\b - AM stereo radio broadcasting begins."
"\BFeb 05, \J1985\j\b - US withdraws from a planned ANZUS naval exercise after NZ refuses to allow nuclear-capable US warships to call at its ports."
"\BFeb 05, \J1985\j\b - Australia cancels its involvement in American MX missile tests."
"\BFeb 07, \J1985\j\b - State of emergency declared in Qld (to 7 Mar.) after Electricity Board workers go on strike. (Some 900 strikers subsequently sacked; new employment contract includes a no-strike clause.)"
"\BFeb 14, \J1985\j\b - Douglas Stewart died (71)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1986\j\b - Cyclone Winifred devastates a 200 km stretch of coast between Cairns and Ingham, Qld; one man killed, scores injured, hundreds of houses destroyed."
"\BFeb 02, \J1986\j\b - Nurse Anita Cobby is abducted, robbed, raped, and murdered by John Travers, Michael Murdoch, and Leslie, Gary, and Michael Murphy at Prospect, Sydney. (All five men sentenced on 16 June \J1987\j to life imprisonment with the recommendation never to be released.)"
"\BFeb 07, \J1986\j\b - Lindy Chamberlain released from gaol on licence after serving 39 months of a life sentence for the murder of her daughter Azaria. (Commission of inquiry into the Chamberlains' convictions begins in Darwin, 8 May.)"
"\BFeb 08, \J1986\j\b - Liberal government of Robin Gray re-elected in Tas; Labor government of Brian Burke re-elected in WA."
"\BFeb 09, \J1986\j\b - First women (eight) ordained as deacons of the Anglican Church in Australia, at Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral."
"\BFeb 11, \J1986\j\b - Joan Child becomes first woman Speaker of House of Representatives."
"\BFeb 12, \J1986\j\b - Ernie Bridge becomes the first Aboriginal cabinet minister on being elected to the Burke ministry in WA."
"\BFeb 12, \J1986\j\b - û Halley's Comet visible in the night sky (to late Apr.)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1987\j\b - Princess Anne visits WA (to 8th) during the America's Cup races."
"\BFeb 06, \J1987\j\b - News Ltd takes over the Herald and Weekly Times."
"\BFeb 06, \J1987\j\b - Sir Anthony Mason succeeds Sir Harry Gibbs as Chief Justice of the High Court."
"\BFeb 15, \J1987\j\b - All-weather road between Adelaide and Darwin completed with the sealing of the last section near Marla Bore, 230 km north of Coober Pedy, SA."
"\BFeb 15, \J1988\j\b - Afternoon newspaper the \ISun\i\b begins publication in Brisbane, the morning paper the \IDaily Sun\i\b having closed on 13 Feb. (ceases publication 10 Dec. \J1991\j)."
"\BFeb 25, \J1988\j\b - Peter Dowding replaces Brian Burke as Premier of WA (Burke having been appointed ambassador to Ireland)."
"\BFeb 09, \J1988\j\b - Sir Charles Moses died (88)."
"\BFeb 28, \J1988\j\b - Kylie Tennant died (75)."
"\BFeb 04, \J1989\j\b - Dowding Labor government re-elected in WA with reduced majority."
"\BFeb 16, \J1989\j\b - W. G. Hayden succeeds Sir Ninian Stephen as Governor-General."
"\BFeb 12, \J1990\j\b - Carmen Lawrence replaces Peter Dowding as Premier of WA, becoming Australia's first female Premier."
"\BFeb 23, \J1990\j\b - Report released that the State Bank of Victoria incurred a loss of $1.345 billion, the largest in Australia's corporate history."
"\BFeb 06, \J1991\j\b - Dame Roma Mitchell becomes Governor of SA and the first woman to hold vice-regal office in Australia."
"\BFeb 10, \J1991\j\b - SA government forced to bail out State Bank of South Australia, facing losses of up to $3 billion."
"\BFeb 25, \J1991\j\b - Reserve price scheme for wool suspended. (Price of wool subsequently drops to lowest on record in Oct.)"
"\BFeb 27, \J1991\j\b - Pemulwuy Koori College opens in Newtown, Sydney."
"\BFeb 01, \J1992\j\b - One-cent and two-cent coins no longer currency."
"\BFeb 19, \J1992\j\b - Election in Tas. Results: Liberal 19; Labor 11; Green Independents 5. Ray Groom becomes Premier."
"\BFeb 15, \J1992\j\b - Follett Labor government re-elected in ACT. Electors choose Hare-Clark voting system in referendum."
"\BFeb 18, \J1992\j\b - Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip begin an eight-day visit to celebrate the sesquicentenary of local government in Sydney."
"\BFeb 06, \J1993\j\b - Labor government of Carmen Lawrence is defeated in WA election. Richard Court becomes Premier of Liberal-National Party coalition government."
"\BFeb 10, \J1993\j\b - Fred Hollows died (63)."
"\BFeb 01, \J1994\j\b - Christopher Skase, wanted in Australia to face charges relating to the collapse of his Qintex media company, gives himself up to authorities in Spain. (Spends 11 months in gaol hospital; released in December after Australia's extradition attempts fail on medical grounds.)"
"\BFeb 22, \J1994\j\b - Oz Lotto drawn for the first time."
