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Period: to
Early Settlement
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William Davis
The Irishman, William Davis, was sentenced to life in prison by the British in 1798 without a trial. Davis was one of one hundred and thirty-two 'rebels' who were deported as convicts to Australia in 1799. William Davis was on the same ship as Fr James Dixon and celebrated the first mass in 1803. -
Fr James Dixon
This Irish Priest transported to Sydney after taking part in the Irish uprising of 1788. On the 15th of may he conducted the first public Roman Catholic mass and marriage in Sydney. Fr James Dixon returned to Ireland in 1809. -
First Public Catholic Mass (Fr James Dixon)
Fr. Dixon presented the very first public mass in Australia on the 15th of May 1803 at Port Jackson, followed by another mass in Paramatta on may 22nd and at Hawkesbury on may 29th. these masses helped the Catholics that had only just arrived to Australia celebrate their own religion and feel at peace. -
Castle Hill Convict Rebellion
the Castle hill rebellion of 1804 was a rebellion by convicts against colonial authority of the British colony of NSW in the Castle Hill area, in Sydney. -
the Rum Rebellion
On the 26th of January 1808, officers and men of the New South Wales Corps marched to the Government House in Sydney in an act of rebellion against the Governor William Bligh. Bligh was arrested and the colony was placed under military rule. the rum rebellion ended in January 1810. -
Jeremiah O’Flynn
Jeremiah was a Priest who helped to publicise the needs of Catholics in NSW and to influence the British government in 1820 to allow the first official Roman Catholic missionaries to be sent to Australia. He was forced to leave Australia on the 20th of May 1818. -
the beginning of Catholic Education
Parramatta Marist High is the oldest Catholic school in Australia with a history and tradition spanning over 190 years. Founded in 1820 by Fr John Therry, the original site was adjacent to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, and became a highly respected Catholic school for both boys and girls -
Fr John Therry
Father John Therry had a significant involvement in the enrichment of Australian Catholicism. Therry was responsible for building multiple churches around Australia. He is most renowned for building St. Bedes Church in Appin, which is the oldest Catholic Church still in use in Australia mainland. -
George Morley
George Morley was the very first head teacher at Parramatta Marist old boys Union in Parramatta. The school is still there to this very day. -
St Mary’s Cathedral
the very first St Mary's was built on land given to the church in 1820 by Governor Macquarie, who had been petitioned by Father John Joseph Therry for a site for a Catholic chapel. the site chosen was on the edge of town, close to the convict barracks and convict garden. Macquarie laid the foundation stone in October 1821 -
Fr Philip Connolly
Fr. Philip Conolly, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland. he arrived in Hobart in 1821 and was the first permanently appointed chaplain. his hardest role was to prepare convicted felons for death on the gallows. -
Period: to
Formative Years
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Establishment of the Catholic Church in Tasmania
The foundation stone was layed in 1835 and blessed by Polding before he departed for Sydney, the first formal act of a catholic bishop. Money was raised by locals and contributed to by the government, enabling construction to be completed by 1837. -
John Bede Polding
Polding joined the Benedictine order in 1811 and was ordained priest in 1819. Consecrated a bishop, he arrived at Sydney in 1835. There he divided his territory into missionary districts and swiftly provided them with priests, churches, and schools. -
Eureka Stockade
the Eureka stockade was caused by a disagreement over what gold miners felt were unfair laws and policing of their work by the government. police invaded the mines to enforce the licensing laws, in late November 1854. The miners refused to cooperate and burned their licenses and stoned the police. -
Period: to
Growth Years
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arrival of the Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers arrived in Australia in 1862 at the invitation of the archbishop of Sydney. the Brothers in Australia currently operate as two Provinces with centers in Sydney and Melbourne. -
Period: to
Contemporary Society
