-
1788
La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first
Mass within Australian territory -
1791
First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay -
1792
Catholic settlers in Parramatta petition Governor Phillip for a Chaplin -
1803
First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon -
1817
Fr Jeremiah Flynn arrives to minister to convict Catholics but he does not have the official sanction of the church or state. The following year after ignoring Governor Macquarie’s instructions not to carry out any of the functions of a priest, he is arrested and deported despite protests from the colony’s Catholics and several Protestant leaders -
1821
The foundation stone of St Mary’s Chapel is laid by Governor Macquarie and blessed by Fr Therry. The site is near a barren brickfield and Sydney’s convict barracks on land considered undesirable and without value. Father Connolly built the first Catholic church in Tasmania -
1822
Fr Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta -
1826
Fr Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Fr Therry as the official chaplain to the growing colony. Hardworking Fr Therry moves to Parramatta and remains a chief influence among Sydney’s Catholics -
1829
Penal laws preventing Catholics from holding Government positions ends -
1830
Fr Power dies -
1833
St Mary’s Chapel finally completed. Fr Therry celebrates the first Mass there. Fr William Ullalthorne arrives in Sydney to take over as the colony’s first Vicar General -
1834
Benedictine priest, John Bede Polding was consecrated (ordained as Bishop) in London and appointed Vicar Apostolic with jurisdiction over what is now the Commonwealth of Australia. -
1837
Governor Bourke reinstates Fr Therry as the colony’s official chaplain. Catholic centres are established in Wollongong, Maitland, Parramatta and Windsor St Mary’s Seminary and opened at Bishop’s House. St Patrick’s Church at Parramatta is completed -
1839
The weekly Catholic newspaper, Australasian Chronicle is launched with former schoolteacher turned journalist William as founding editor. The journal champions the rights not only of the church but also of small farmers, working men and the dispossessed -
1840
Transportation of convicts to New South Wales is suspended -
1843
Polding launched the first Catholic Mission to Aborigines on Stradbroke Island. Queensland. Queensland is part of the Archdiocese which encompasses an area now covered by NSW, Victoria and Queensland. -
1848
Archbishop Polding consecrates Fr James Goold as the first bishop of Melbourne in the second Episcopal consecration to take place at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral -
1857
The Sisters of Charity establish St Vincent’s Hospital in the centre of Sydney and offer its services free to all people, but especially to the poor