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First Fleet arrives in Australia (New Holland or New South Wales)
The British began convict settlement in Australia ( New Holland or New South Wales) 30% of them were catholics and half of those catholics were Irish. Governor Phillip ordered all convicts to attend Sunday church or they would be flogged. In 1788 some convicts decided to burn down the first church built in the colony. -
Catholic convicts argue with the Governor
The convicts argued with Governor Phillip to have a catholic priest sent down to the colony that was their religion but the Governor refused because he had fears of the Irish ganging up and leaving him alone in the anglican religion. -
Catholics in Australia
Most of the catholics were Irish convicts and those people did not believe in Anglican so there are records of them using rosary beads plus prayer books sooner than the priest arrived. -
First four priests arrive in Australia
The first four priests had arrived in Australia but those two men were Irish convicts so they were forbidden to celebrate mass in their religion. -
First mass aloud to be celebrated
The Governor gave in, on one condition that law enforcer's would watch that nothing goes wrong while Fr Dixon was celebrating mass. -
The first 'free' priest arrived
The first ever free priest was sent over to Australia by a pope, but the priest had not gotten the official approval from the church community that he could be apart of it to. That priests name was Father O'Flynn, Father O'Flynn had to be removed from Australia in 1818 which means he only stayed in Australia. -
First 'official' priests arrive in Australia
Father Connolly and Father Therry were the first official catholic priests to arrive in Australia. Father Connolly left for Hobart sometime after they arrived and left Father Therry to be the only official priest in mainland Australia. -
Catholics in New South Wales
By 1820's most of the catholics were still convicts or no longer convicts meaning that they finished their sentence or they escaped from the colony. They had Australia's first census(population count) and there were 36,598 white people that includes convicts and free settlers in that there was 11,236 catholics plus 26,248 protester's -
Bishop Polding appointed
Bishop Polding arrived in Hobart and soon after he was needed in New South Wales because there were now 20,000 catholic convicts protesting. -
Church Act
Fairness was granted to all the religions in Sydney Van Diemen's Land and Brisbane -
First priest arrives in Brisbane
The colony in Moreton Bay (where Brisbane is now) was part of the colony in New South Wales Pope Polding was also Archbishop of Moreton Bay.
