Development of the colony By Cpantalone Jan 1, 1823 John Oxley sent to look for new penal sites Period: Jan 1, 1823 to Dec 31, 1900 Queensland 1800 Jan 1, 1825 Mortan Bay convict settlement transferred to the banks of Brisbane River Jan 1, 1838 German missionary bring Christianity to the Aborigines in Brisbane Jan 1, 1842 The Moreton Bay district is officially opened to free settlement. Jan 1, 1846 Queensland's first newspaper, the Moreton Bay Courier is published. Feb 10, 1859 The proclamation establishing the Colony of Queensland is read to wild applause Apr 1, 1861 In April, the first telegraph line in Queensland is established, revolutionising communication in the colony. Jan 1, 1863 The Kanakas (Melanesian people from South Pacific) arrive in Queensland to work in Queensland's cane fields (until 1904). Jan 1, 1865 Queensland's first rail line opens between Ipswich and Grandchester Jan 1, 1870 Free primary education is introduced in Queensland, the first in Australia. Jan 1, 1893 Queen Victoria grants the Queensland Coat of Arms Jan 1, 1897 The Act also gave the government the right to exercise guardianship over all Indigenous children in the colony.