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Arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove
Christianity came to Australia with the first fleet, between one quarter and one third of the convicts and free settlers were Catholic. -
Catholic Settlers in Parramatta petition Governor Phillip for a Chaplin
An extract of this petition read "“We, therefore, humbly implore your Excellency’s assistance on your return to England, to represent to His Majesty’s Ministers, that it may be taken into consideration, as our present opinion is that nothing else could induce us ever to depart from His Majesty’s colony here, unless the idea of going into eternity without the assistance of a Catholic priest." -
The Irish uprising heightened the distrust towards Catholics
The Irish Catholics rebelled after centuries of oppression from the British Authorities, but were unsuccessful. -
First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon
The mass was a signal event as an act of emancipation for Catholic worshippers. -
Castle Hill Rebellion results in Fr Dixon's permit to conduct Mass being withdrawn
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Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly, Australia's first official priests, arrive in Sydney
Fr Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta and lobbies Governor Macquarie for land on which to build the settlement's first Catholic church -
Father Conolly leaves for Hobart
This departure left Fr John Therry the only priest on mainland Australia -
The construction of the first Catholic church at Richmond, Tasmania
Of the three designs considered, that chosen was by Architect Henry Edmund Goodridge. St John the Evangelist Catholic Church is still functional today. -
Father Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZm-6UkFAOY 'An Insight into the history of Fr John Joseph Therry' -
Father Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Fr Therry
Father Therry moves to Parramatta and remains a chief influence among Sydney's Catholics. -
Australia's first census is held
The census revealed a white population of 36,598, of which 11,236 were catholic -
The Catholic Relief Act
This act allowed the English Catholic Emancipation -
Father John McEncroe appointed official chaplain to the Catholics of Australia
In a letter to Dublin's Archbishop Murray "There are 16,000 or 18,000 Catholics in this colony, not one half of whom hardly ever see a priest" -
Those identifying as Christian made up 98.6% of the Australian population
72.4% were Anglicans, Protestants, Methodists and Presbyterians. 26.6% Were Catholics from Britain and Ireland -
The number of clergy in Australia has risen to 144
129 of the clergy are Irish, the other 15 were made up of 5 English, and the others were French Marists, German Jesuits, and Spanish Benedictines at New Norcia. -
Mercy Sisters arrive in Queensland
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St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney is destroyed by fire
The fire was caused by a gas explosion -
The Christian Brothers arrive in Melbourne
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Death of Mary McKillop
Mary suffered a stroke in 1902 and was an invalid until her death on August 8, 1909. -
Foundation of the Australian Catholic University
The University is located in Sydney, NSW
