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First Discovery of Coal.
In 1791, coal was first discovered by Europeans in Australia at the mouth of the Hunter River in New South Wales by escaping convict William Bryant -
Second Discovery of Coal
The second discovery of coal was on the south coast of New South Wales by William Clarke. This was an important resource for assisiting industrialisation to occur in the colony. -
First Coalmine in Australia Established
The first coalmine in Australia was established in 1801 near the mouth of the Hunter River. -
Govenor King Set Up a Permanant Settlement
In 1804, the Goveneor King set up a permanant settlement at the mouth of the Hunter River, naming it New Castle. It became the centre for development of Australia's coal trade. -
First Steam Engine to be Shipped to New South Wales
In 1813, the first steam engine was shipped to the colony of New South Wales. The steam engine was installed in John Dickson's flourmill in Darling Harbour. -
Simeon Lord Establishes Textile Mill
In 1815, Simeon Lord established a mill in Sydney. -
Simeon Lord Enters Agreement with Govenor Macquarie.
In 1816, Simoen Lorn entered into an agreement with Govenor Macquarie to mill, dye and dress cloth from the Female Factory at Paramatta. -
Six Steam Engines in Australia
By 1831, there were six steam engines in Australia, This includes the one at the Australian Agricultural Company's New Castle coalmine. -
The Sophia Jane
The Sophia Jane was the first paddle steamer to reguarly operate in Australian waters. It was built in England and arrived in Sydney in 1831. -
"The Surpise" - Steam Powered Vessel
While the Sophia Jane was having its paddles fitted in readiness for its maiden voyage, another steamer, the Surpise, made its first voyage from Sydney to Paramatta on 1st June 1831. It became the first stream-powered vessel in Australia. -
Textile Factory Established in Blackwattle Bay
Another textile factory was established in 1832, in Blackwattle Bay, in Sydney. It manufactured the the "finest as well as the coarsest clothes". -
36 Steam Engines in Australia
By 1840, there were 26 steam engines in flourmills and ten in other industries. -
Peter Russell Took Over Sydney Foundry and Engineering Works
This foundry, thought to be the first foundry established in Australia, produced both iron and brass castings along with stoves, gratings, railings and architectural building columns and many steam-engine parts. -
First Attempt at Establishing Iron and Steel Smelting
The first attempt at establishing iron and steel smelting in Australia was made in 1848 near Mittagong, NSW. The smelting plant was not economical and closed by 1877. -
First Railway Track Built.
In 1849, in New South Wales, the Sydney Railway Company built the first railway track in New South Wales from Sydney to Paramatta. -
The Gold Rushes
The gold rushes in New South Wales and Victoria not only bought wealth, but an increase in population in 1851. -
Steamships were Running Services
By 1852, steamships were running services between ports including Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Moreton Bay, Adelaide and Tasmania. -
First Railway Line in Australia Opens
In Victoria, the first railway line to open in Australia was between Melbourne's Flinders Street Station and Port Melbourne, now called Sandridge, on the 12 of September 1854. -
First Cast-iron Foundry Opens
In Melbourne in 1856, Scott Clow and Prebble opened the first cast-iron foundry. -
First Railway Line In South Australia
The first railway line, carrying steam-powered trains, opened on the 21st of April 1856 between Adelaide and Port Adelaide/ -
Treadle and Steam-driving Machines In Use
Treadle and steam driving machines were in use in Melbourne clothing factories in 1859, less than a decade after the development of the equipment in the United States. -
Rolling Mill Established in Melbourne
Enoch Hughes estabished a rolling mill in Melbourne in 1860 and later was to play a major role in establishing a iron and steel works in Lithgow, NSW. -
10 Foundries in Ballarat
By 1861, Ballarat had 10 foundries in total. Eight for minining equipment and two for repairing and producing farm equipment. -
First Railway in Tasmania
The first railway line opened in Tasmania in 1868, between the northen towns of Launceston and Deloraine. -
First Ever Cloth Woven In Victoria
In January in 1868, the first ever cloth woven in Victoria was produced by the Victoria Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing Company. However, there is a possibility that it could have been made at Pentridge Prision a few years earlier. -
First Railway in Western Australia
The first railway in Western Australia was a private railway from Lockville to Yoganup in 1871. -
Second Attempt to Establish Iron and Steel Smelting
Another attemp was made in 1873 in Victoria, with the formation of the Victoria Iron Company- later to become the Lal Lal Iron Mining Co. Ltd. in 1874. -
The Waverley Wolleen Mill Established
In 1873, the Waverley Wollen Mill was established in Distillery Creek. near Launceston. It won the prize of £1000 offered by the Tasmanian colonial Government for the first woollen goods manufactured from locally produced wool. -
First Railway In Queensland
The First railaway in Queensland ran from Ipswich inland to Grandchester. The system was then further extended to the darling downs before being connected with Brisbane, in 1875. -
First Government Railway
In 1879, the first government railway opened between Geraldton and Northampton. -
Broken Hill Mining Company Established
In 1883, the Broken Hill Mining Company was established by 7 men from the Mt Gipps sheep station. -
Charles Rasp Discovers Tin
Charles Rasp belived he discovered tin on the "Broken Hill" in the Barrier Ranges in Western New South Wales in 1883. -
Establishment of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited
In 1885, Australia was to have its first major mining and steel production company with the establishment of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP). -
Broken Hill Mining Company Incorporated into Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited
The Broken Hill Mining Company was incorporated into the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) in 1885. -
First Railway in Northen Territory
On the 1st of October, 1889, the first railway in the Northen Territory opened between Darwin and Pine Creek. -
Smelting Commences
In 1890, smelting commenced at Port Pirie, South Australia. -
First Export of Lead to China
In 1891, lead was first exported to China by BHP. -
Period: to
Industrialisation Slowed in Australia
Towards the end of the 19th century, a severe recession in Australia slowed industrialisation. -
Leases are Obtained
In 1899, leases were obtained over Iron Knob and Iron Baron Iron-ore deposits in South Australia. -
BHP Commences and Iron-Ore Mining
In 1900, BHP commences at Iron-Ore Mining at Iron Knob. -
First Railway in the Australian Capitol Territory
In 1914, the first railway in the Australian Capitol Territory opened between Queanbeyan and Canberra. -
BHP Begins Steelworks Operation
BHP began the Steelworks operation on the second of june 1915 in Newcastle, New South Wales.