More than 12 million Australians had their final say on same-sex marriage in 2017. The result was a resounding 'yes'.
A win for same-sex couples and for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who faced fierce criticism for insisting on the non-binding postal survey. "It is a big Australian hug for all same-sex couples, saying we love you, we respect you, now go out there and get married."
But 2017 wasn't all good news for the Coalition.
Liberal and National Party members were strongly represented in federal Parliament's dual citizenship saga - a political mess expected to continue well into 2018.
Internationally, Emmanuel Macron was elected France's youngest President, while Jacinda Ardern took the reins as Prime Minister of New Zealand, just weeks after stepping up as opposition leader.
The leadership was handed to Ms Ardern by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. "I feel extraordinarily honoured and privileged to be in the position to form a government with Labour at the lead", she said.
Terror
Acts of terror continued to claim lives across Europe and around the world.
Eight people were killed, including two Australians, when a white van struck a number of pedestrians on London Bridge.
Gerard Vowls saw the three attackers leave the van in nearby Borough Market.
"They ran into the tavern, they stabbed the bouncer, they were stabbing, they were running in all the pubs, all the bars, I can't remember all of them. They were running in stabbing everyone, I was going, 'run, run, run.' I was throwing bottles at them, pint glasses, stools, chairs. I tried to help as many people as I could."
In Australia, police allege two men attempted to smuggle an improvised explosive device onto a flight leaving from Sydney airport.
Failing at that, the men went on to hatch a separate plan to build a hydrogen sulphide bomb, before being arrested by Australian Federal Police.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan says the men posed a genuine threat. "This is one of the most sophisticated plots that has ever been attempted on Australian soil."
Melbourne mourned the loss of six lives, including a three-month old baby, when a man in a car went on a violent rampage through the city's streets.
Witnesses described the car mounting the footpath and speeding through Bourke Street Mall, mowing down pedestrians.
"There was just people running straight for us, and I thought, my god. I went home and I was sad but god, it takes a day or two to really sink in."
Tensions between North Korea and the United States tested breaking point, as Pyongyang continued to test-fire missiles, prompting threats from US President Donald Trump.
"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen."
Arts & Sports
Australia's most senior Catholic cleric, Cardinal George Pell, returned to fight historical sexual offence charges - a chance, he said, to finally clear his name.
"For two years there have been leaks to the media, there's been relentless character assassination, and for more than a month, claims that a decision on whether to lay charges was imminent. I'm looking forward finally to having my day in court. I'm innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me."
And after five years Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse delivered its findings, including 198 recommendations.
Australian-born Hollywood actress Rebel Wilson had a historic win in a Melbourne court, successfully suing Bauer Media for defamation.
Lawyer Richard Leder said the award of more than $4.5 million in damages sends a message.
"Today's verdict is a significant record. It's about four times the highest previous verdict in a defamation case in Australia. I think she's going to be absolutely stoked and she'll probably say she crushed it."
And in sport, the Australian Socceroos successfully qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a two-goal win over Honduras.
But Australia's road to Russia was off to a sombre start, with the shock resignation of coach Ange Postecoglou.
"Sometimes there's just, there's just an instinct that I just think it's the right time for me, it's the right time for the team, for the organisation. And I think from that perspective, as tough as the decision is, and it has been very tough, for me it feels like it's the right time."
