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A timeline of violence

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  1. 1790 September 7

    Arthur Phillip

    Governor of New South Wales

    Survived being speared in the shoulder by Willemering, a Garagal man.

    Arthur Phillip
  2. 1868 March 12

    Prince Alfred

    Duke of Edinburgh

    Survived a shooting in Sydney. An Irish nationalist named Henry O’Farrell was convicted and hanged for the attack.

    Prince Alfred
  3. 1966 June 21

    Arthur Calwell

    Leader of the Labor Party · Labor Party

    Survived an assassination attempt after an anti-conscription rally in Sydney. 19-year-old student Peter Kocan was jailed over the attack.

    Arthur Calwell
  4. 1977 July 15

    Donald Mackay

    Candidate for Riverina, NSW · Liberal Party

    Anti-drug campaigner who went missing from the car park of a hotel in Griffith. Blood and bullet cartridges were nearby, but his body has never been found. Hitman James Bazley was convicted of his murder.

    Donald Mackay
  5. 1978 February 13

    Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing

    Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting

    A bomb was planted in a rubbish bin and exploded when it was emptied by two garbage collectors, killing them and a police officer standing nearby.

    Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing
  6. 1980 July 17

    Peter Baldwin

    Member of the NSW Legislative Council · Labor Party

    Survived a beating by two unidentified men. The left-wing activist said he was targeted for trying to expose fraud and corruption among the party’s right faction.

    Peter Baldwin
  7. 1980 December 17

    Şarık Arıyak

    Turkish Consul-General

    Fatally shot along with his bodyguard outside his home. News outlets received a call from a woman claiming responsibility for the attack on behalf of the Justice Commandos of the Armenian genocide, but no one has been charged.

    Şarık Arıyak
  8. 1994 September 5

    John Newman

    Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly · Labor Party

    Shot and killed outside his home in Cabramatta. In 2001, local businessman Phuong Ngo was convicted of his murder.

    John Newman