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Mary Reibey Arrives In Australia
Mary was sent to Sydney as a convict when she was just 15. -
Mary Reibey Becomes Governor of a Christian School
In 1825 she was appointed one of the governors of the Free Grammar School. -
The Church Acts are Approved
The Church Act was approved by the Colonial Office in 1836. The Act provided funding to the Catholic, Church of England and Presbyterian churches to employ clergy and erect churches. -
Caroline Chisholm Arrives In Australia
Caroline Chisholm arrived in Sydney in the Emerald Isle in September 1838. -
The Sisters of Charity Arrive in Australia
In 1838, five nuns from the Sisters of Charity travelled from Ireland to Australia. They were compelled by the original vision of their founder, to care for the poor and vulnerable in the newly established colony. -
St Patrick’s Church is Built
In 1840 William Davis donated the land on which St Patrick’s is built. -
Female Emigrant's Home Established By Caroline Chisholm
In 1841, she established the Female Emigrant's Home in Sydney which provided shelter and helped women find work in the city. -
St Francis’ Church is Built
Fr Patrick Geoghegan laid the foundation stone in 1841, he named the church in honour of St Francis of Assisi, the founder of his order. -
Mary MacKillop is Born
MacKillop was born in Australia to poor Scottish immigrants -
St. John’s School is Established
St John’s Catholic School was established in the “old” school house adjacent to the Church in 1843. -
The Christian Brothers Arrive in Australia
The Christian Brothers first came to Sydney, Australia in 1843. -
St. John’s Pro-Cathedral is Built
St. john’s Cathedral is the earliest Roman Catholic church building in Western Australia. -
The Sisters of Mercy Arrive in Australia
The Sisters of Mercy first came to Australia in 1846. Dedicated to serving people who suffer from injustices related to poverty, sickness or lack of education. -
Old St Stephens Church is Built
It was designed by A W Pugin and built from 1849 to 1850 by Alexander Goold and Andrew Petrie. -
The Gold Rush Starts
In 7 months, 2.4 million pounds of gold was transported to nearby capital cities. The gold rushes caused a huge influx of people from overseas. Australia's total population more than tripled from 430,000 in 1851 to 1.7 million in 1871. -
The St Vincent de Paul Society is Established
The St Vincent de Paul Society was established in Australia at St Francis' Church in Melbourne on 5 March 1854 after witnessing the plight of people following the discovery of gold in Victoria. -
Fr Julian Tenison Woods Arrives In Australia
Julian arrived in Tasmania in 1855, aged 23 -
The Good Samaritan Sisters are Founded
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan was commenced by Bede Polding in Sydney in 1857. The congregation was the first religious congregation to be founded in Australia. -
Mary MacKillop Founds the Sisters of St Joseph
In 1866 MacKillop and Fr Julian Woods founded Australia’s first order of nuns, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, and also established St. Joseph’s School in a converted stable in Penola, providing a free education to children from the area. -
The Presentation Sisters Arrive in Australia
The Presentation Sisters first came to Richmond in Tasmania in October 1866, to Victoria in 1873 and to New South Wales in 1874. -
Mary MacKillop Continues her work
In 1867 MacKillop took vows and became the first mother superior of the sisters. The following year the sisters opened schools in other Australian cities, as well as an orphanage and a refuge for women released from prison. -
Sectarian violence at Duke of Edinburgh visit
The Dukes arrival stirred sectarian violence. -
Fr Woods Founds the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Fr Julian was a much loved missioner in Tasmania. It was during his first year on the island state that he founded the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Brisbane. -
Mary Mackillop Becomes General of the order of Nuns
In 1875 she was appointed superior general of the order and held this title until her death.
