Development of the colony By jgordon7 Jan 1, 1823 john oxley sent by sir thomas brisbane to searech for new sites Period: Jan 1, 1823 to Dec 31, 1900 Queensland1800s Jan 1, 1825 moreton bay convict settlement established at redcliffe Jan 1, 1842 the moreton bay district is officially opened to free settlement Jan 1, 1859 queensland becomes a colony Jan 1, 1861 first telegraph line Jan 1, 1863 the kenakas people Jan 1, 1865 queenslands first railway line Feb 15, 1875 free primary education Nov 29, 1876 Aboriginals rights Jan 1, 1893 queen victoria Jan 1, 1933 queenslands first newspaper Jan 1, 1938 german missionaries