Australia Day 2025

The electric drill: Patented in 1889 by Australian electrical engineer Arthur James Arnot and his colleague William Brain

Polymer bank notes: Made from a special polymer that makes them hard to counterfeit and more environmentally friendly

Spray-on skin: Developed in 1992 by Dr Fiona Wood to treat burn victims

The dual flush toilet: Developed in 1980 by Bruce Thompson, who led the design team at Caroma bathroom products in Adelaide

The notepad: Invented in 1902 by J.A. Birchall from Launceston, Tasmania

The electronic pacemaker: Invented in 1926 by Dr Mark C. Lidwell and physicist Edgar H. Booth from Sydney

The black box flight recorder: Invented in 1958 by Dr David Warren from Melbourne

Refrigeration: Invented by Harrison in 1854, who created a commercial ice-making machine and a vapour-compression refrigeration system

Vegemite: Invented in Melbourne in 1923, made from brewer's yeast

We also invented Wifi (thank you, Dr John O’Sullivan) and Ultrasound Scanners (thank you, David Robinson and George Kossoff)

We are also home to the Macadamia Tree (Queensland Nut)! They grow in central Queensland to Northern NSW. Macadamia nuts are considered one of the world's healthiest and most sought-after nuts. They are high in healthy fats, fibre, and minerals