Colonial Events 1828
State Library NSW.
January 3
Arrival of Convict Ship Florentia, Captain Billett. Surgeon Superintendent James DicksonJanuary 12
Arrival from Cork of the convict ship Elizabeth . Surgeon Superintendent Joseph HughesJanuary 13
Arrival of the convict ship Marquis of Huntley. Master William Ascough . Surgeon-Superintendent John SmithFebruary 8
Arrival of the vessel Ellen from London. Passengers included Henry Donnison, wife and two children; E. Nunn; Mr. and Mrs Chapman. Steerage, Robert Wright, Henry Hawden and William WakeFebruary 24
Arrival of convict ship Hooghley, Captain Reeves. Surgeon-Superintendent Alexander NisbetFebruary 27
Westernport settlement abandonedMarch 1
Post offices opened at Parramatta, Windsor, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Penrith, Bathurst, and Newcastle; Australia's first postman appointed in Sydney, a twice-weekly horse post established between principal towns.March 3
Arrival of convict ship Morley, Captain Williams. Surgeon Peter Cunningham. The Morley brought whooping cough to the colony. Immediate quarantine did not prevent the disease from spreading throughout the colony causing the death of many children.March 10
Postmaster appointed in Newcastle and'regular sea postal service commenced between Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie and HobartMarch 13
Arrival of the Convict ship Asia 1. Surgeon-Superintendent James McTernanMarch 19
Steam boats discussed for use at Newcastle and Hunter RiverApril
Death of an infant child of Lieutenant Sweeney near Cottage Creek at NewcastleApril 2
Death of Charles Throsby at his estate GlenfieldApril 18
Woodlark wrecked in Torres Straits under Captain G.A. Leary. Six drowned. Survivors given food and shelter by Captain Logan and family at the Moreton Bay settlement. They arrived back in Sydney late June.April 21
Brick house built by William Powditch at Newcastle offered for sale. (Newly erected and situated near the wharf in the main street. Builtat an expense of £1200 and said to be well situated for an Inn) More about Watt St. NewcastleApril 23
Formation of Australian Racing and Jockey clubMay 8
John Erskine appointed Clerk to the Bench of Magistrates at Newcastle. Previously held position of Superintendent of convicts at Norfolk Island for two years
May 26
John Oxley, Surveyor general of Colony died 'after a long course of bodily infirmity'May 28
Thomas Livingstone Mitchell appointed Surveyor-General of New South Wales following the death of John Oxley
May
The coal mine at Newcastle, commenced c. 1818, had completely fallen in and was abandoned. A new mine opened yielding 15 tons per day.June 2
Arrival of convict ship Mangles from Dublin. Captain William Carr. Surgeon Superintendent Harman Cochrane. R.N.June 5
Sloop Dove wrecked at Port Stephens. Master William Vurrell. Owned by Thomas Street of Darling Harbour. The master, a seaman, a Newcastle constable and a prisoner of the Crown after suffering great privations were brought into Newcastle by Natives. 7 lives lost including 2 seamen, a free man John Delaney and 4 prisoners of the Crown.July 10
Masters' and Servants' Act passed in New South Wales.July 11
Court-martial of Captain Robert Robinson of the Veterans for libel against Governor DarlingJuly 12
Arrival of convict transport Borodino . Surgeon-Superintendent George ThompsonJuly 14
Arrival of the convict ship Phoenix I under Master Thomas Curzons. Surgeon Superintendent William Bell Carlyle, R.N..July 25
Arnold Fisk appointed Pilot and landing waiter at Newcastle in the room of Messrs John Rush Moore and William Eckford, resigned
July 26
Arrival of Bussorah Merchant, Captain Baigrie.July 30
Capt. James Stirling, having returned to England, urged the Colonial Office to form a colony on the Swan River.August
Bussorah Merchant placed in quarantine due to outbreak of smallpox. Military Guard and convicts landed and encamped on the North side of the Harbour and the schooner Alligator stationed adjoining to as a Hospital ShipAugust
Publication of Henry Dangar's Map of the Hunter and its branches by Joseph Cross, LondonAugust 3
Whooping cough causes many deaths including Edward the infant son of Governor Darling on 3rd AugustAugust 3
Captain Patrick Logan and Allan Cunningham climb Mount Lindesay (now Mount Barney) and sight and name the Macpherson Range.
August 17
Terence Rooney a newly arrived convict by the Borodino fatally wounded at George St. Sydney by a soldier of the Garrison. £100 reward offered for information leading to perpetrator's conviction for murder. In September John Geason, soldier, was sentenced to transportation for life for the murder.August 25
Allan Cunningham determines access to the Darling Downs through Cunningham's Gap.
September 8
Arrival of the convict ship Countess of Harcourt Captain Harrison. Surgeon Superintendent John DrummondSeptember 13
Bank of Australia in George Street, Sydney robbed. Entry gained through a nine foot thick foundation wall reached by excavating through a drain that had been opened on the opposite side of the street. Reward of £100 offered for information leading to discovery of robbersSeptember 13
Capt. Collet Barker arrives at Raffles Bay to take over command of the settlement.September 17
Holey dollars withdrawn from circulationSeptember
Escape attempt from Newcastle Gaol. Prisoners had attempted to excavate underground.October 10
Arrival of the convict ship Competitor from London. Master John Stewart.October 12
Arrival of the convict ship Marquis of Hastings, Captain Drake. Surgeon-Superintendent William Rae.November
Census taken in November. Population 36, 598November
Captain Robert Hunt of 57th Regt., appointed Commandant at Norfolk IslandNovember 3
Ship Magnet arrived in New South Wales with employees and servants of the Australian Agricultural Company - John Edward Stacey, John Hallam, Thomas Hewitt, Thomas Laman, Thomas Sawkins, John Swayne.November 3
Arrival of convict ship Albion. Surgeon Superintendent Thomas Logan R.N.November 10
Charles Sturt with Hamilton Hume and a party leave Sydney to trace the course of the Macquarie River.November 12
Convict transport City of Edinburgh, Captain James R. Glendon . Surgeon-Superintendent William AndersonNovember 17
Announcement of the first Provincial Bank established in the Colony, under the title of the Bank of NewcastleNovember 18
Arrival of the convict ship Eliza III . Surgeon Superintendent James PattonNovember 24
Arrival of the convict ship Royal George . Master Robert Embledon. Surgeon- Superintendent William GregorDecember 27
Arrival of architect John Verge on board the Clarkstone. Land grant at Dungog - Lyndhurst valeDecember 30
Stirling given instructions to occupy the Swan River area and officially appointed Lt-Governor of WA.December
George Wyndham established Dalwood vineyards on land previously belonging to David Maziere in 1828↑