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Colonial Events

1798

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Estimated white population approximately 5,000  
 

JANUARY 2

 

Wilson's Promontory and Phillip Island sighted by George Bass  

Three men returned to Sydney after an exhausting stint in the bush around Cowpastures. They brought with them a lyrebird described by David Collins as a variety of bird of Paradise.

 
 

MAY 14

 

Hail Storm in Sydney stones 6" diameter

 
 

MAY 18

 

Arrival of Barwell. Master John Cameron. Passengers included  Hunter Valley settlers  McDougall and Bowman families; Richard Dore, deputy Judge-Advocate and 287 male prisoners. Convict lawyer/poet Michael Massey Robinson was also transported on the Barwell

 
 

JULY 18

 

Arrival of Britannia. Robert Turnbull master. Convict Bryan Spalden on board later to be exiled to Newcastle after the uprising at Castle Hill

 
Departure of Bass & Flinders in the Nautilus to investigate the possibility of a strait north of Van Diemen's Land.  
 

OCTOBER

 

Arrival of the Norfolk from Bengal with cargo of merchandise and stock  
 

OCTOBER

 

Fire destroyed the first church in Australia  
Government Order issued requesting that names of female servants be forwarded to authorities.  
Merchandise in the colony at exorbitant prices  
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Drought in the summer of 1798 - 99.

 

 

Free Settler or Felon?

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