History of the Catholic Church in Australia - Timeline

By Dylan Johnstone

  • 1788

    La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first the mass within Australian territory

  • 1791

    First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • 1800

    Fr James Dixon and two other priests arrested as part of the 1798 Irish Rebellion are transported to New South Wales as convicts

  • 1803

    First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon

  • 1804

    Castle Hill Rebellion results in Fr Dixon’s permit to conduct Mass being withdrawn

  • 1822

    Fr Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta

  • 1833

    St Mary’s Chapel finally completed. Fr Therry celebrates the first Mass there.

  • 1867

    Mary MacKillop becomes the first Sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph

  • 1879

    NSW Catholic Bishops issue a Joint Pastoral Letter stating that Catholics must send their children to Catholic schools unless given special dispensation by their parish priest.

  • 1909

    Death of Mother Mary MacKillop

  • 1819

    Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly, Australia’s first official priests, arrive in Sydney.

  • 1929

    James Scullin becomes Australia’s first Catholic prime minister

  • 1950

    Foundation of the Catholic Immigration Office to welcome and assist new immigrants

  • 1971

    The Archdiocese of Sydney now has 366 Catholic schools with 115,704 pupils.

  • 2000

    The two spires of St Mary’s Cathedral are finally completed