Development of the Colony By lheliios Jan 1, 1823 John Oxley sent to look for new penal sites Period: Jan 1, 1823 to Dec 31, 1900 Queensland 1800s Jan 1, 1825 Moreton Bay Convict Settlement Established in Redcliffe Jan 1, 1838 German Missionaries Bring Christianity to Aborigines Jan 1, 1842 Moreton Bay becomes a free settlement Jan 1, 1846 The Moreton Bay Courier is published Dec 10, 1859 Queensland beomes a colony Jan 1, 1861 The first telegraph line in Queensland is established Jan 1, 1863 The Kanakas in Queensland to work in cane fields Jan 1, 1865 The first rail line opens between Ipswich and Grandchester Jan 1, 1870 Free primary education is introduced in Queensland Jan 1, 1893 Queen Victoria the Coat of Arms to the colony of Queensland Jan 1, 1897 The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction Sales of Opium Act is passed