Church in Australia

  • Arrival

    La Perouse arrives in Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first
    Mass within Australian territory
  • Convicts Arrive

    The first Irish convicts come to Australia
  • The first mass

    The first mass in held by Fr Dixon but it has heavy government supervision
  • Priest arrive

    The first official priest, Fr John Terry and Fr Phillip Cononley arrive in Sydney
  • Catholic school

    The first catholic school is founded in Parramatta by John Terry
  • First Census

    The first census is held and it is revealed that a majority of white convicts are protestant
  • Bishop Polding

    Bishop Polding arrives in Australia
  • Five sisters charity

    Five Sisters of Charity arrive in Sydney with a mission to help the poor and disadvantaged in response to a request from Archbishop Polding for a community of sisters in the colony. English-born philanthropist Caroline Chisholm also arrives in Sydney
  • No more convicts in NSW

    Polding becomes archbishop of many places across the country and convicts being sent to NSW officially ends.
  • St Vincent's hospital

    The Sisters of Charity establish St Vincent’s Hospital
  • Sisters of St. Joseph

    Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods found the Sisters of St. Joseph. Daniel Murphy appointed second Archbishop of Hobart
  • Catholic press

    Catholic Press prints and distributes its first issue
  • Mary Mackillop

    Death of Mother Mary MacKillop
  • WW1

    World War I declared. Catholics became influential in the Australian Labor Party with the rise of figures such as Ben Chiffley and James Scullin.
  • Education

    The creation of Catholics teachers federation
  • Prime minister

    The first Catholic prime minister with James Scullin
  • Catholic Immigration Office

    Foundation of the Catholic Immigration Office which helps people come into the country
  • Visit to Australia

    Pope Benedict XVI makes his first visit to Australia when the Archdiocese of Sydney hosts World Youth Day 2008