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Pre-English Settlement the Aboriginals practiced many different religions relating to their clan.
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Crime in Britain was rising dramatically in the 1700s
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In 1788 the first fleet landed in Australia, 300 catholic convicts were onboard, one tenth of the convicts are Catholic
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In 1798 the Irish rebelled against British rule in Ireland from May to September.
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The first public Catholic mass was held by Fr. James Dixon.
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300 convicts rebelled against the English and mass was once again banned
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The first priest of the colony arrived in Sydney in November 1817. His name was Fr. Jeremiah O'Flynn
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In May 1820, two priests, John Therry and Philip Conolly, arrived in Sydney, they were allowed to preach but were under strict control. They couldn't - marry Catholic and Protestants, educate orphans, convert anyone to their faith or take part in politics.
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The British Act of 1829 meant that there was freedom of religion in England and colonies and that people of Catholic religion could take part in positions of power.
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In 1833 Fr. William Ullathorne was appointed the first Vicar-General of NSW.
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In 1833 the number of Catholics grew from 6000 to 16 000.
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Fr. John Bede Polding was appointed the first Catholic Bishop of Australia.
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During the 19th century Archbishop Bede Polding helped to establish and Australia-wide church.
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Fr. John Therry was appointed Vicar-General of Tasmania
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Victorians petitioned for a priest and in 1839 were sent a priest called, Patrick Geoghegan.
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In 1843 Bishop Polding sent Fr. John Brady to establish missions for the Aboriginal people and minister to convicts in Perth
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In 1844 a priest arrived for the free colony of Adelaide his name was Francis Murphy.
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By 1845 about a quarter of Melbourne's 12 000 people were Catholic.
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In 1861 there were two priests, four churches, four schools and 7 000 Catholics out of 30 000. In 1871 there was thirty priests, twenty-eight schools and thirty churches.
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In 1872 Victoria was the first state to introduce Education Acts detailing that education should be free, compulsory and secular.
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In 1913 the Irish Archbishop, Daniel Mannix, arrived in Melbourne and worked towards Catholic equality and social justice.
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When WWI started Catholics were being blamed for being unpatriotic and were the main leaders against conscription
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After the Second World War, Australia welcomed many immigrants from Catholic countries and in 2011 census figures indicated that 25% of Australians were Catholic.
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In 2011 there were 5.4 million Catholics, about 25%. There are 331 Catholic Primary and Secondary schools around Victoria and 1 in 4 students attend a Melbourne catholic school.
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In 1861 there were two priests, four churches, four schools and 7 000 Catholics out of 30 000. In 1871 there was thirty priests, twenty-eight schools and thirty churches.
