Oldest Aussie turns 112 in Melbourne

MELBOURNE - Australia's oldest person will celebrate her 112th birthday at her Melbourne nursing home today.

Emily Beatrice "Bea" Riley is Australia's oldest-known person and the 30th oldest in the world.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot this morning to congratulated Mrs Riley on her milestone.

Mrs Riley will celebrate with afternoon tea at her Rosanna nursing home in Melbourne's outer north-east.

She was born on October 13, 1896 in the dairy town of Poowong, in Victoria's eastern Gippsland region.

Her husband Alec died in 1986.

"I congratulate Mrs Riley on reaching this remarkable milestone," Mrs Elliot said.

"In her lifetime Mrs Riley has witnessed two Halley's comets, watched man land on the moon and witnessed the Federation of Australia."

Mrs Elliot said Australians had the world's second longest life expectancy, after the Japanese.

- AAP