From the Archives, 1942: Melbourne's air raid blackout test
On this day in 1942, Australia tested its air raid readiness. As city lights could be seen from as far as 80 kilometres, to protect Melbourne and its deep-water port, munitions and aircraft factories from night-time air raids, street lights were turned off, dimmed or hooded as were those of public transport and motor vehicles and the windows of homes and buildings covered to prevent tell-tale light from leaking out. Eight days after this practice drill Darwin was bombed.
Source: theage.com.au
