1788

First Fleet enters Sydney Cove on January 23

1788

La Perouse enters Botany Bay on January 25. His chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first Mass

within Australian territory

1792

Catholic settlers at Parramatta petition Governor Phillip for a chaplain

1800

Fr James Harold & Fr James Dixon arrive as convicts

1803

Fr Dixon celebrates the first public Mass

1804

After the Castle Hill rebellion of Irish convicts, Dixon's permit was withdrawn

1817

Fr Jeremiah O'Flynn arrives without government credentials

1818

O'Flynn is arrested and deported

1820

Fr Philip Conolly and Fr John Therry arrive as official chaplains

1821

Fr Conolly is sent to Tasmania and Fr Therry is left in charge in NSW

1821

On Oct 29 Governor Macquarie lays the foundation stone for St Mary's Church on the site of what was later

to be the cathedral.

1822

First Catholic school at Parramatta

1826

Fr Daniel Power becomes chaplain and Fr Therry moves to Parramatta

1828

First census of NSW shows that 69% of the white population is Protestant and 30% Catholic

1829

Settlement of Western Australia begins

1830

Catholic Emancipation Act promulgated for NSW

1831

Fr CV Dowling OP arrives as chaplain

1832

Fr John McEncroe arrives in Sydney

1833

Feb 18 Dr W B Ullathorne arrives in Sydney as Vicar-General

1833

NSW Legislative Council provides grants for the appointment of four new chaplains, for the completion of three

unfinished churches, and £800 a year for schools and schoolteachers

1834

John Bede Polding created as bishop and appointed vicar-apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land

1835

Polding arrives in Sydney as bishop

1836

Governor Bourke's Church Act provides government funds for all major churches

1836

South Australia first settled

1836

Financing secured for a Catholic orphanage

1836

Foundation of St Patrick's Church, Parramatta

1837

Bishop Ullathorne's writings attract Catholic support for a mission

1838

First Marist priests at Woolloomooloo

1838

Caroline Chisholm from the Sisters of Charity arrives in Sydney;

1839

Catholic newspaper Australasian Chronicle founded

1840

End of convict transportation to New South Wales