In Australia the British Crown colony of Queensland is created from northern parts of New South Wales

On this day Queen Victoria signed the documents devolving northern portions of the the colony of New South Wales into the seperate Crown colony of Queensland. The new entity officially was to comprise the whole northeastern portion of the continent, an area of almost 680,000 square miles.  Its population numbered around 25,000.  Sir George Bowen was appointed the first governor and its new bicameral government came into effect on December 10, 1859.  June 6 is celebrated in Australia as Queensland Day, however.  (By John Osborne)