Australian Historical Events in January

Australian Historical Events is a daily guide to the important events that shaped Australia to what it is today. It is a compilation of significant events for the month of January including the birth and death of famous Australians as well as laws promulgated by authorities. The list is constantly updated to incorporate the most recent events.

Australian Historical Events in January

Day	Year	Event
1	1901	The Commonwealth of Australia as a nation composed of six states (formerly colonies of the United Kingdom) was established with its constitution coming into force.
1	1910	Sir George Houston Reid, a former prime minister, became the first High Commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom.
7	1920	Death: Sir Edmund “Toby” Barton, first prime minister of Australia
8	2003	Lightning strikes started four fires near Canberra then spread all over the national capital over the next two weeks destroying almost 70% of pastures, pine plantations, and nature parks including Mount Stromlo Observatory.
10	1697	Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh and his crew made the first recorded European exploration of the swan River area, including what is now the city of Perth, in Western Australia.
15	1842	Birth: Mary MacKillop in Melbourne, the first Australian to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
18	1849	Birth: Sir Edmund “Toby” Barton, first prime minister of Australia.
21	1931	Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, the first Australian-born to become governor-general, begins his term as the ninth Governor-General of Australia.
26	1627	The voyage of Dutch explorer François Thijssen came upon Cape Leeuwin, the south-westernmost tip of Australia.
26	1788	The colony of New South Wales was established with the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. This day has become Australia’ National Day.
26	1808	Australia Day was first celebrated to mark the establishment the colony of New South Wales.
26	1818	The first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales was held.
26	1935	All Australian states and territories adopted use of the term “Australia Day” to mark the date of the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove.
26	1959	Darwin, the capital of Northern Territory, became a city.
26	1994	All Australian states and territories marked this day as a public holiday to celebrate the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove.
23	1936	Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, begins his term as the tenth Governor-General of Australia.
30	1898	The Roman Catholic Diocese of Geraldton was created from the Diocese of Perth in Western Australia.
30	1945	Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, begins his term as the eleventh Governor-General of Australia.