The airline Qantas is founded

Edith Cowan becomes the first woman elected to an Australian parliament

The Smith Family charity is founded in Sydney

Vegemite is first produced

The first Miss Australia contest is held

The tenth parliament is formally opened in Canberra, finalising the move to the new capital

Bert Hinkler makes the first successful flight from Britain to Australia, and Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first flight from the United States to Australia. The Shrine of Remembrance is built.

Western Australia celebrates its centenary

Batsman Don Bradman scores a record 452 not out in one cricket innings

Sir Douglas Mawson charts 4,000 miles of Antarctic coastline and claims 42% of the icy mass for Australia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge opens

Western Australia votes at a rerefendum to secede from the Commonwealth, but the vote is ignored by both the Commonwealth and British governments

The last Thylacine dies

The radio series Dad and Dave begins

Sydney hosts the Empire Games, the forerunner to the Commonwealth Games

(April) Prime Minister Lyons dies in office and is replaced by Robert Menzies and the first Menzies Government

A team of scientists, under Howard Florey, develops penicillin

3 Divisions of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force join operations in the Mediterranean. After initial successes against Italy, 2nd AIF suffered defeat against the Germans in Greece, Crete, and North Africa.

Feb, Fall of Singapore. 15,000 Australians become Prisoners of War of the Japanese

Australia wins its first Oscar, with cinematographer Damien Parer honoured for Kokoda Front Line! documentary.

Cowra breakout, mass escape of Japanese prisoners of war occurs in NSW.

the Liberal Party of Australia is established with Robert Menzies as its first leader.

Minister for Immigration Arthur Calwell introduces the major post-war immigration scheme

Minister for External Affairs, Dr. H.V. Evatt is elected President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme begins

1950-53 - Australian troops are sent to the Korean War to assist South Korea.

Australia signs the ANZUS treaty with the United States and New Zealand

First nuclear test conducted in Australian territory by the United Kingdom off the coast of Western Australia.

Elizabeth II and Prince Philip make a royal visit; the Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov defects, leading to the Petrov Affair and another split in the Labor Party

Democratic Labor Party splits from Australian Labor Party over concerns of Communist influence in the labour movement

Television in Australia is launched.

The song 'Wild One' makes Johnny O'Keefe the first Australian rock'n'roller to reach the national charts.

Robert Menzies' Commonwealth Electoral Act provided that all Indigenous Australians should have the right to enrol and vote at federal elections, removing remaining restrictions applying in QLD, WA and NT.

The Beatles tour Australia;

Indigenous Australians gain right to vote in state of Queensland

The ban on the employment of married women in the Commonwealth Public Service is lifted;

Decimalisation; on 14 February the Australian currency is changed to dollars and cents, with the Australian Dollar replacing the Australian pound.

Large areas of Hobart and south-eastern Tasmania are devastated by bushfires on 7 February that kill 62 people;

Australia signs the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; Aboriginal boxing champion Lionel Rose defeats Masahiko 'Fighting' Harada in Japan to become the world bantamweight champion; Australia's first liver transplant operation is performed in Sydney;

French conceptual artist Christo 'wraps' Little Bay in Sydney;

More than 200,000 people participate in the largest demonstrations in Australian history, against the Vietnam War

Neville Bonner becomes the first Aborigine to become an Australian Member of Parliament;

The Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission rules that women doing the same job as men have the right to be paid the same wage.

The Sydney Opera House is opened

Darwin is devastated by Cyclone Tracy

(November) A constitutional crisis occurs when Malcolm Fraser blocks supply, bringing the nation to a standstill until Governor-General John Kerr dismisses Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on the 11.11.75. Fraser wins elections and becomes Prime Minister

The Australian Capital Territory legalises homosexuality between consenting adults in private.

Advance Australia Fair becomes Australia's official national anthem

The First Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicks off in Sydney

Australian women win the right to maternity leave

Baby Azaria Chamberlain disappears from a campsite at Uluru (Ayers Rock), reportedly taken by a dingo. The Coalition wins the 1980 Australian federal election.

A referendum is held in Tasmania to vote for whether or not the Franklin Dam should be built.

Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane. The National Gallery of Australia is opened.

Australia wins the America's Cup;

Advance Australia Fair is proclaimed as Australia's national anthem.

The government grants the freehold title of a large area of land in central Australia, including prominent landmarks Uluru and Kata Tjuta, to the Mutitjulu people, who in turn give them a 99-year lease.

The Australia Act removes the right of appeal from State courts to the British Privy Council, making the High Court the final court of appeal in Australia. The Act also removes all remaining rights of the UK parliament to pass law for Australia. Anita Cobby murder in Sydney. Russell Street Bombing in Melbourne. Crocodile Dundee is released in Australia.

Hoddle Street Massacre kills 7 victims and injures 19,

Australia celebrates its bicentenary, with large celebrations and major funding for capital works projects. The new Parliament House opens. Federal referendums on 4-year parliamentary terms, recognition of local government and other issues are defeated. Brisbane hosts World Expo '88.

Newcastle Earthquake kills 13 people.

Royal Australian Navy deployed in preparation for the First Gulf War.

Prime Minister Bob Hawke is replaced by Paul Keating.

The High Court delivers the Mabo Decision, which rules that indigenous native title does exist. This effectively extinguishes the concept of terra nullius.

Keating defeats John Hewson in the 1993 federal election;

The Northern Territory legalises voluntary euthanasia, but it is overruled by the federal government when Liberal MP Kevin Andrews proposes the Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996

The High Court hands down the Wik Decision, which holds that indigenous native title can survive the granting of pastoral leases.

Expelled Liberal MP Pauline Hanson forms the One Nation Party

A major strike results when Patrick Stevedores attempt to introduce non-union labour to reduce the influence of the Maritime Union of Australia

Both houses of the federal parliament pass a motion signifying both recognition of and regret at past treatment of indigenous Australians.

27th Olympic Games held in Sydney.

Australia celebrates centenary of Federation;

Following is the tribute read by Roy Langmead, Mercia's son, at her funeral. *** Mercia Jean Langmead was Roy's wife, our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and everybody's friend. Mum was born in Healesville Victoria, Australia in 1920 and at the age of 1 week was dedicated to the Lord at the same service where her husband to be was also dedicated. Family folklore says that Mum liked what she saw on that day and planned..... Mum was to be one of a family of four children, George, who was a prisoner of war on Ambon Island, Lily, Mercia and Alice, who is the only surviving member of the siblings and who is here with us today. She gained much of her quiet but solid faith from her parents George and Minnie Loughnan who served the Lord all their lives in the Salvation Army. Her mother, Minnie, was banished from home at the age of 22 because she was so sure God was calling her to join the Salvation Army that she went ahead, even against her fathers wishes. Mum not only inherited that firm determination and absolute faith in God but has also passed it on. Little did she know when she eventually married Roy Langmead at the age of 21 in 1942, that she would raise four children, travel to Burma in God's service, carry a son around on her back for years because he contracted polio there, have children leave home to serve the Lord as missionaries in New Guinea and Africa, leave other children behind as she and Dad moved wherever they felt God was leading them, have twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren, nor that she would spend almost 59 years lovingly and joyfully married to and serving the Lord with her beloved husband Roy. When thinking of Mum some of the words which come to mind are loving, cheerful, generous, forgiving, optimistic, hopeful and always industrious. She bore the pressures of life and illness in an accepting and uncomplaining way. Staff at the hospital where her life ended told us that they never heard a single word of complaint from her the whole time she was there. Shortly after she passed away one of the nursing staff patted her arm and said "Well done", Mum would have been more interested, though, in hearing those words, as I have no doubt she will have, from her Lord and Saviour as He welcomed her home. Mum always had a strong sense of what was right and just and was always ready to confront an issue where she felt things were not as they should be. Although quiet and loving at all times she was never afraid to make a case or argue the merits of what she believed in, doggedly keeping at it until she felt that she had done all she could to right wrongs and maintain a Godly standard. As we, and many of you, have experienced, Mums life and person were typified by her loving acceptance of every person who came across her path. She was incapable of allowing a bad thing to be said about anyone. Mum always credited people with the best intentions and motives. She always had a kind word, a word of encouragement, a word of guidance and at times even a loving word of admonition to those who needed it. She had a wonderful relationship with every member of her family. There was no distinction made between direct family and in-laws, marriage into the Langmead family was like adoption, Mum unconditionally loved and accepted us all. Her unswerving love and loyalty for each one of us meant nothing negative or judgemental about other family members could be allowed to pass in Mum's presence. She was always able to present another aspect or temper the statement with a more charitable view. She boasted about this son, or that daughter, this grandchild or that great-grandchild. She and Dad had a relationship with their grandchildren which is uncommon in this day and age. Even when travelling the world, their grandchildren have taken time to phone and write to them because of the wonderful relationship they have had. Mum with Dad, portrayed a wonderful model of the marriage relationship which has also been a great example to their immediate and extended family. Mum sometimes said that she had a simple faith, meaning that she did not necessarily hold strong convictions on all the great theological issues which are from time to time debated. But in reality, what Mum did was to refuse to encumber her faith with issues which might take from her heart and soul the strength, sincerity and simplicity of her love for God and the certain knowledge that one day she would be with Him. A little over a week before she was promoted to glory, she, with Dad took the decision not to seek extreme treatment to temporarily extend her life expectancy. The ease with which she was able to make that decision gives testimony to the certainty of her assurance of eternal salvation. Many of you have ministered to Mum throughout her years of illness and we thank you for that. We are particularly thankful for the loving and caring ministry and support given by Alastair to Mum over the years, and especially through these last weeks. I know that we as family have been privileged to have Mum as part of our lives, and we are proud that throughout her life she managed to share her love and acceptance with so many other people around Australia and the world. We are thankful that in turn you, our friends and extended family in Christ also shared your love with her. I leave you with the words of a song. "She went to sleep one night / never here to awaken again But everything was alright / between her and Him ( So she awoke in Heavens courtyard / free from pain within The angels gathered around her / and they took her by the hand Serenaded by angels, up to the throne, Serenaded by angels, finally at home, Surrounded by praises to the King Welcome to paradise, the angels did sing'