While Australia's grief continues after one of the worst gun crimes in recent history - last week's siege at Sydney's Martin Place - the incident joins a history of horrific gun crimes.

The SBS takes a look at major gun crimes, and gun control laws, since the 1987 Hoddle Street Massacre.

While last week's crime shocked Australia, the deaths form part of a long-term declining trend for gun deaths.

Since the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996 - and the introduction of uniform gun laws soon after - Australia has seen a decline in deaths attributable to guns.

A briefing before the 1996 laws were introduced said the laws across Australian states were fragmented and inadequate.

"Prior to this incident, gun laws in Australia could be seen as relatively lenient, and there were large variations in the regulations across the six states and two mainland territories"