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First Fleet
The First Fleet of 11 ships, each one no larger than a Manly ferry, left Portsmouth in 1787 with more than 1480 men, women and children onboard. After a voyage of three months the First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay on 24 January 1788. -
First Christian Service
Reverend Richard Johnson, an Anglican, was the chaplain assigned to the First Fleet conducted the first Christian service in Australia. -
First church opened in Australia
Johnson used his own funds to build the church, which opened in 1793. However, was burned down later in 1798. -
Irish priest arrived
In 1800, an Irish priest arrived in Australia, not as official clergy but as a convict accused of aiding rebellion in Ireland. -
Founded Anglican church
Samuel Marsden, who was also Anglican arrived in 1794 and is credited with founding St John's Anglican Church in Parramatta. -
First Catholic Mass
The first recorded Catholic Mass was celebrated in Sydney by the convict priest Father James Dixon. -
Castle Hill rebellion
Angry at the harsh conditions under which they lived, more than 300 Irish convicts armed with spears and rifles rallied at Castle Hill crying 'death or liberty'. 9 convicts were killed and many others wounded. -
Government passes Church Act
Provided funding, in the form of subsidies, for buildings and salary for clergy, for all the main Christian denominations. -
State aid to church school abolished
Catholics either had to send their children to government schools or fund their own schools. -
Anglican Church established 'bush brotherhoods'
Formed by Anglicans priests formed to provide pastoral care in sparsely settled areas. These became known as bush ministries.
