-
Australia Act of 1986: Full Independence Down Under
On this date in 1986, the Australia Act of 1986 came into effect. Here are some things you may not have known about Australia’s independence from the United Kingdom. The Australia Act of 1986 cut the last constitutional ties between Australia and the UK. The process began in 1901 with the creation of the Dominion…
-
Australia Day
Today is Australia Day. Here are some things you may not have known about Australia’s national holiday. Australia Day marks the 1788 arrival of the British First Fleet near Sydney, about 18 years after the first European set foot there. The fleet was sent to Australia to establish a penal colony on the coast of…
-
Extreme Weather: 5 Things You Need to Know
On this date in 1923, the town of Marble Bar, Australia, began a record-setting streak of 160 days with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Here are some things you may not have known about temperature extremes around the world. Marble Bar, which is located in northwestern Australia, has an average maximum temperature…