Wales beat Australia 21-18 to finally claim the Tri Nations scalp it coveted after frustrating defeats against South Africa and New Zealand to end its autumn series on a high.
The reigning Six Nations champion subdued an Australian side rocked by injured skipper Stirling Mortlock's third-minute departure.
Wales, which last toppled one of the southern hemisphere super powers three years ago, was more adventurous, creative and dynamic than the Wallabies.
Australia, beaten narrowly by Wales at the Millennium Stadium in 2005, could not live with the brilliance of electrifying Welsh backs Lee Byrne and Shane Williams.
Full-back Byrne, surely a Lions Test certainty in South Africa next summer, and wing wizard Williams both claimed memorable first-half tries.
Williams, recently-crowned International Rugby Board player of the year, rounded off a breathtaking fourth-minute move, then transfixed Australia's defence by sending Byrne over.
Australia, despite being outclassed when Wales attacked, saw its hopes of a first unbeaten European Test match tour since 1996 evaporate.
But its doggedness meant Wales could never relax, and it was ultimately indebted to first five-eighths Stephen Jones booting two penalty goals, a dropped goal and conversion.
Lock Mark Chisholm and wing Digby Ioane scored tries for Australia at either end of the contest, while Matt Giteau kicked eight points, yet Wales was not to be denied.
It dominated a half of each Test match against the Springboks and All Blacks during the past three weeks, but had failed to score a try on each occasion.
But it will now launch its Six Nations title defence against Scotland in February buoyed by a victory it richly-deserved.
Giteau swung the game into action, and there was an immediate Wallabies blunder when fullback Drew Mitchell knocked on just outside Australia's 22-metre line.
It caused the game's opening scrum, which ended in a free-kick to Wales, but a crunching midfield collision when Mortlock tackled opposite number Jamie Roberts ended with both players going off - Mortlock immediately, and Roberts 15 minutes later.
The dazed Mortlock was helped off, to be replaced by Queensland's Quade Cooper, and Wales immediately took stunning advantage of his absence.
Williams broke Australia's initial defensive cover on halfway, before Byrne and Roberts linked magnificently at pace.
Mitchell prevented a certain try by tackling Roberts, but possession quickly found its way to Williams, who pouched his 44th Test match try.
It was a memorable score - Williams' first of the autumn series - and although Jones drifted his conversion attempt wide, Wales was up and running.
Australia, clearly ruffled by Mortlock's premature exit, was at sixes and sevens in all facets of the game as Wales went for the jugular.
Mitchell was then guilty of a rash airborne challenge on Byrne - it amazingly escaped censure from Irish referee Alan Lewis - before Wales undid its promising early work.
Hooker Matthew Rees' lineout throw five metres inside his own half was tapped down by lock Alun-Wyn Jones, but halfback Gareth Cooper could not gather and a grateful Chisholm sprinted clear to claim an unlikely opportunist try.
Giteau slotted the conversion, and Australia, despite struggling to stay the pace with a fired-up Wales side, led 7-5 after 16 minutes.
And as a frantic opening quarter neared its conclusion, Roberts - still feeling the effects of Mortlock's tackle - departed the action and was replaced by Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop.
Chisholm's effort though, sparked Australia into life, and a smart Giteau dropped goal