1788    The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent. Commemorated as Australia Day

1813    In Australia, William Lawson, Gregory Blaxland and William Wentworth lead an expedition westwards from Sydney. Their route opens up inland Australia for continued expansion throughout the 19th century.

1852    The University of Sydney, Australia's oldest university, is inaugurated in Sydney.

1899    The Australian Premiers' Conference held in Melbourne decides to locate Australia's capital city, Canberra, between Sydney and Melbourne.

1920    The Communist Party of Australia is founded in Sydney.

1939    Sydney, Australia, swelters in 45 ˚C (113 ˚F) heat, a record for the city.

1942    World War II: Japanese imperial submarines I-21 and I-24 shell the Australian cities of Sydney and Newcastle.

1964    In Sydney, Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser sets a new world record in the 100-meter freestyle swimming competition (58.9 seconds).

1977    Australia's worst rail disaster occurs at Granville, Sydney killing 83.

1978    Hilton bombing: a bomb explodes in a refuse truck outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia, killing two refuse collectors and a policeman.

1985    The Live Aid benefit concert takes place in London and Philadelphia, as well as other venues such as Sydney and Moscow.

1986    A low-pressure system that redeveloped off the New South Wales coast dumps a record 328 millimeters (13 inches) of rain in a day on Sydney.

1999    A severe hailstorm strikes Sydney, Australia causing A$2.3 billion in insured damages, the most costly natural disaster in Australian history.

1999    Glenbrook rail accident near Sydney, New South Wales.

2005    Cronulla riots: Thousands of White Australians demonstrate against ethnic violence resulting in a riot against anyone thought to be Lebanese (and many who were not) in Cronulla Sydney. These are followed up by retaliatory ethnic attacks on Cronulla.

2007    The first Airbus A380 passenger flight, operating for Singapore Airlines, with flight number SQ 380, flying scheduled service between Singapore and Sydney, Australia.