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Colonial Events

1840

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Moreton Bay opened up for general settlement  
 

 

 

Economic Depression after withdrawal of funds from banks and decline in value of livestock  

 

 

 

Prince of Wale Birthday celebration in 1869 at Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany

 

Sir Joseph Banks Hotel at Botany commenced. By the time of this engraving in 1869, gardens and a zoo had been established on the grounds.  
 

 

 

Hordern Bros department store founded in Sydney

 

 

 

Paul Strzelecki  - tour of south western Australia

The Progress Of Ethnology By John Russell Bartlett

 

 

 

JANUARY

 

Port Phillip Herald established  
 

JANUARY 4

 

The house of Col. Snodgrass at Raymond Terrace robbed by three armed men  

 

 

 

JANUARY 4

 

Death of catholic priest James Dixon  

 

 

 

JANUARY 7

 

Launch of the General Steam Navigation Company steamer Victoria at Hunter's River (built by Korff at Greenhills)

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 19

 

Departure per H.M.S. Herald for New Zealand of surveyor Felton Mathew; His Excellency Captain Hobson, Lieut-Gen of NZ; Dr. Johnson and Mr Hustler  

 

 

 

JANUARY 11

 

Departure of Angus McMillan and party from the Tambo River to Gippsland  
Departure per H.M.S. Herald for New Zealand of surveyor Felton Mathew; His Excellency Captain Hobson, Lieut-Gen of NZ; Dr. Johnson and Mr Hustler  
 

JANUARY 27

 

Arrival of convict transport Middlesex from Dublin with 193 male prisoners and from the Mauritius 1 prisoner. 421 tons, Captain Munro. Surgeon Thomas Baird. 29 rank and file of 50th regt.

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 29

Map showing location of Lord's land near Newcastle

Death of pioneer merchant Simeon Lord

Select here to read Simeon Lord's biography at Australian Dictionary of Biography

 

 

 

FEBRUARY

 

Hunter River in flood. Vessels unable to load at Morpeth as  roads were impassable for drays

 

 

 

Paul Strzelecki and James Macarthur ascend Mt. Kosciuszko  
 

 

FEBRUARY 25

 

 

Buffalo store ship arrived with prisoners convicted in the disturbances in Canada. American prisoners disembarked in Van Diemen's Land and French Canadian prisoners sent to Sydney. One died on the passage.

 A Deep Sense of Wrong: The Treason, Trials and Transportation to New South Wales of Lower Canadian Rebels After the 1838 Rebellion

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 26

 

Arrival of convict ship Woodbridge

 

 

 

 

MARCH

 

Alexander Maconochie appointed administrator of Norfolk Island .....

 'Thoughts on Convict Management and other Subjects connected with the Australian Penal Colonies' written by Maconochie in 1838

 

 
 

MARCH

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Patrick Leslie overlands first cattle to Darling Downs, Qld.......  
 

MARCH 21

 

Murrurundi mail robbed by bushrangers

 

 

 

MARCH

 

Arrival of Maltese mules and muleteers imported by A.A. Company  
 

APRIL

 

William Lawson robbed by two armed men near Iron Cove bridge on the Parramatta Road  

 

 

 

APRIL 4

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Survey for railroad between Newcastle and Maitland completed .....  
 

APRIL 8

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Call for an end to 'the hateful lash' ........  
 

APRIL 27

 

Arrival of convict transport Mangles

 

 

 

Several men apprehended at Liverpool Plains by Major Nunn. Suspected of knowing the whereabouts of notorious bushranger Opossum Jack  
 

MAY 5

 

Public meeting in Melbourne to petition for separation from NSW  
Dan O'Connell cutter lost off Port Stephens.......  
 

MAY 22

 

Order of Council ends transportation of convicts from England to NSW  
 

JUNE

Portrait of Mortimer Lewis

 

From the National Portrait Gallery

Court House at Newcastle completed. Mortimer Lewis Colonial Architect and builders Richardson & Hudson......  
 

JUNE

 

Brig Maria wrecked off S.A. Coast 27 passengers and crew killed by Aborigines.  

 

 

 

JUNE

 

Ship China arrived with passenger David Stolworthy ( later medical practitioner at Patrick Plains)  

 

 

 

JUNE 8

 

Edward John Eyre begins overland journey from Adelaide to King George Sound W.A......  
 

JUNE 23

 

Foundation stone laid for The Garrison Church. Holy Trinity by Rev. W.G. Broughton. Corner of Argyle & Lower Fort Streets Miller's Point. Henry Ginn and Edmund Blacket were the architects. Edward Flood the builder.  
 

JULY 1

 

First Edition of the daily Monitor

 

 

 

JULY 13

 

Arrival of convict transport Surrey I

 

 

 

 

JULY 14

 

Arrival of convict ship Maitland

 

 

 

 

JULY 24

 

Arrival of convict transport Isabella II

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 14

 

Discovery of Lake Eyre by E.J. Eyre  
 

AUGUST 17

 

Arrival of convict transport King William

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 17

 

Arrival of convict transport Margaret

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 18

 

Arrival of Hunter Valley land owner Henry Lindeman on the Theresa

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER

 

Bushranger 'Barraby Jack' active in the Cassilis district

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER

 

Sydney Morning Herald commenced daily publication  
 

SEPTEMBER

 

George Arden published Latest information with regard to Australia Felix, the finest province of the great territory of New South Wales ; including the history, geography, natural ... population and advice to immigrants  
 

SEPTEMBER 24

 

Arrival of Australian Agricultural Company colliers on board ship Richard Webb

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 28

 

Mass meeting of workers in Sydney protesting against amendment to the Masters & Servants Act  
 

OCTOBER

 

Elphinstone arrived  with 248 emigrants principally agriculturalists. Ten deaths on the passage out

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER

 

Sir George Gipps informs Council that information had been received  on 1st August ending transportation to the Colony  

 

 

 

OCTOBER

 

Famous Court case - Mudie v. Kinchela

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 5

 

Formation of the Synod of Australia  
 

OCTOBER 31

 

Australia's first political election - Adelaide municipal election  
 

NOVEMBER 6

 

Arrival of convict transport Pekoe

 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 17

 

Death of Church of England clergyman Henry Fulton  

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 18

 

Arrival of Eden  - last convict ship to off load convicts in Sydney - 267 male prisoners  

 

 

 

NOVEMBER

 

Discovery ships Erebus and Terror under Captain Ross, R.N. and Captain Crozier to depart at the end of the month

 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER 21

 

Geelong Advertiser established by J.P. Fawkner  
 

DECEMBER

 

Steamer Clonmell begins passages to Port Phillip.  

                   

 

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