On this day April 29 Australia 1770 - Lieutenant James Cook discovers and names Botany Bay. 1789 - Australias first bushranger, John Black Caesar, is tried for theft, leading him to make escape plans. Governor Phillip pardoned Caesar, but sent him to Norfolk Island as a free settler, where he fathered a child. Three years later he returned to Sydney and took up his life of bushranging once more. He was captured several months later. He enjoyed brief recognition when he directly assisted the capture of the Aborigine Pemulwuy, who had led numerous attacks against Europeans and their occupation of aboriginal land. In 1795, Caesar escaped once more, but on 15 February 1796 was shot and killed by a bounty hunter. 1841 - Edward John Eyres overseer, Baxter, is killed by two of the Aborigines who accompanied the expedition. After Baxter died, Eyre was left with just one loyal companion, the Aborigine, Wylie. The anguish Eyre felt was recorded in his journal entry: Ages can never efface the horrors of this single night. Baxter could not be buried in the hard limestone surface: Eyre wrapped his body in a blanket and left it there high above the Great Australian Bight at the point now known as Baxter Cliffs. 1901 - The new Australian Commonwealth Government announces a Federal Flag design competition. Five almost identical entries were selected to share the 200 pound prize. On 3 September 1901, the new Australian flag flew for the first time from the top of the Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The flag was simplified, and approved by King Edward VII in 1902. 1941 - The town of Meeberrie, Western Australia, is hit by an earthquake. 1988 - Australian icon, the Stockmans Hall of Fame, is opened in Longreach, Queensland. Unique aspects of life in outback Australia are showcased through the various galleries of Discovery, Pioneers, Outback Properties, Life in the Outback and Stock workers. Displays are presented through a variety of media. The centre is also used to host a variety of events such as Opera in the Outback, the Drovers Reunion, Musters and Pro Rodeos, and Sheep Shearing competitions. Other places 1945 - German troops surrender in Italy 1945 - Notorious concentration camp, Dachau, is liberated by US troops. The troops were so horrified by conditions at the camp that they shot about 35 of the camp guards, while another 515 were arrested or managed to escape. The troops found 32,000 prisoners at the point of death, crammed 1600 to each of 20 barracks, which had been designed to house 250 people each. They also found 39 railroad cars, each filled with one hundred or more bodies. 1952 - The ANZUS Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States goes into force. The Treaty developed as a result of the cooperation between Australia, New Zealand and the US in the Pacific arena during World War II. By 1951, the US wished to allow for Japans rearmament as a result of the Korean War breaking out, including a provision that Japan grant the United States the territorial means for it to establish a military presence in the Far East. However, Australia remained wary of the country which had threatened Pacific security during the war. Australia and New Zealand only agreed to Japans rearmament when Australia and New Zealands proposal for a three-way security treaty was accepted by the United States. The treaty specifically stated the intention of the three signatories to work to strengthen and maintain peace in the Pacific Area, including Japan. Most recently, the treaty was invoked in Australia following the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 13:00:49 +0000
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