37 Of The Most Incredible Photos From Australia In 2015

Rosie Batty became the face of resilience after her son was murdered by his father at a public park in Victoria. On Australia Day, she was named Australian of the Year for her efforts to address domestic violence.

During one of WA's hottest summers on record, firefighters struggled to control a fire that burned through 61,000 hectares of bushland in the state's south for over a week.

Tropical Cyclone Marcia made landfall in February, hitting Queensland's southeastern coast with severe weather conditions for 48 hours.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion visited the Galiwinku community on Elcho Island after it was hit by two cyclones in one month earlier this year.

Bondi Beach was left blanketed by sand after powerful winds and massive waves hit the NSW coast in April.

Sydney Swans veteran Adam Goodes announced his retirement from the AFL after a season in which he became the target of racist slurs and crowd-led booing.

Berlin-based artist Yadegar Asisi unveiled this epic life-size panorama of the Great Barrier Reef. His artwork aimed to present the beauty, as well as the complexity and vulnerability, of the world's largest coral reef.

Traditional owners of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park marked 30 years since the federal government handed back their land. The occasion was commemorated with cultural performances and events.

A supermoon was visible across the country in September this year. The phenomenon coincided with a total lunar eclipse, or "blood moon".

North Queensland Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston took a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie after his team won the 2015 NRL Grand Final.

Bronwyn Bishop became one of parliament’s most controversial figures this year. The speaker of the house was forced to resign following number of extravagant charges on her expense account.

Tony Abbott exits his final press conference as prime minister after announcing he would fight a leadership challenge from Malcolm Turnbull. He would lose the Liberal party leadership within hours.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott (seen above at a cattle yard near Canberra) closed the year on the backbench, and says he will decide his future early in 2016.

As temperatures rose above 42 degrees in Adelaide, locals escaped the heat by cooling off at Henley Beach.

One of the highlights of this year's Vivid Festival in Sydney was David Attenborough's installation on the vaulted roof of the Argyle Cut. Titled "Life Story", the projection narrated the journey of life, from infancy to parenthood.

In January, Andy Murray's then-fiancé Kim Sears was caught on camera shouting expletives during a semifinal match at the Australian Open. As a response to offended viewers, Sears came to Murray's next match with a bold warning.

Bioluminescent plankton bloomed on Tasmania's Derwent River, drawing a brave winter crowd keen to see the phenomenon.

Federal Liberal MP Warren Entsch tied a rose around the microphone at Liberal MP Don Randall’s seat in the House of Representatives after Randall died suddenly in July.

Brintha Sukumaran and her family visited her brother, Bali 9 ringleader Myuran Sukumaran, at an Indonesian prison in the days prior to his execution. Australians across the country staged protests against the Indonesian government's decision to proceed with the death sentences.

In October, photographer Sam Yeldham set up his camera to capture a Turneresque Sydney sunset when these newlyweds joined the frame. Through social media, he was able to identify the couple and gift them with an unexpected wedding present.

NASA's very own Twitter star Scott Kelly took a series of abstract photographs of Australia from space. They were, quite literally, out of this world.

A large crowd gathered in Melbourne to voice their opposition to the forced closures of Indigenous communities in Western Australia. The protest shut down the CBD for the afternoon during peak hour traffic.

A protester interrupted the Ellery runway show to complain about neighbourhood noise coming from the events at Sydney Fashion Week.

There was no stopping these surfers at Snapper Rocks as the Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit Queensland, proving that the Gold Coast is truly a surfer’s paradise.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall pass the time at the Seppeltsfield Winery in Barossa Valley during their 12-day visit to Australia and New Zealand.

Tasmanians got to see this stunning night sky earlier this year as the Aurora Australis appeared during the winter season.

The Barron River near Cairns overflowed and flooded after heavy rains hit the far north Queensland region.

Westfield Corporation and Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy took a tumble during the A-League Grand Final winners' trophy presentation. He walked away from the incident but in July underwent brain surgery for a subdural haematoma, which Westfield stated was likely a complication from the fall.

A pod of migrating dolphins was spotted off the coast of Byron Bay in the middle of the winter season.

Australian surfer Mick Fanning was comforted by Julian Wilson after Fanning was attacked by a shark at the J-Bay Open in South Africa.

This year's Sculptures by the Sea in Sydney featured fun and interactive artworks, installed with the ultimate backdrop: the Bondi coastline.

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson announced his retirement from international cricket, leaving the sport as Australia's fourth-highest Test wicket taker with 311 wickets.

Artist Andrew Baines collaborated with teenagers to create a human installation on Coogee Beach to explore concepts of peer pressure.

TV presenter Carrie Bickmore spoke about the pressing need for brain cancer awareness after ​winning the Gold Logie.​

A late-spring storm rolled into Sydney, bringing with it epic cloud formations.

Michelle Payne (pictured above with brother and strapper Stephen Payne) rode her way into the history books by becoming the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup.

Sydney started 2015 with its usual grand fireworks display. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has promised this year’s display, themed “city of color”, will be even bigger.