Portal:Australia/Anniversaries/December/December 12
- 1815 – Captain James Kelly sets out on circumnavigation of Tasmania, during which important observations are made on the resources of the west coast.
- 1860 – Initial riots on the Lambing Flat goldfields near present day Young, New South Wales.
- 1906 – 1906 Australian federal election: The government of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin is returned to power, however voter turn-out is low.
- 1981 – A referendum is held in Tasmania to vote for whether or not the Franklin Dam should be built. 47% vote for the original proposal, 8% vote for the compromise solution and 45% voted informally. It is estimated that up to one-third of all votes were for "no dams", which was not a sanctioned option.