Early Church By Seb101 1791 First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay 1792 Catholic settler in Parramatta petition Govener Phillip for a priest May 24, 1798 Fr Dixon was caught up in the reaction of the Irish Rebellion 1800 Fr Dixon arrived in NSW 1803 First official public Mass is held by under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by priest Fr James Dixon 1819 Father Dixon became a Priest 1819 Fr John Therry and Fr Phillip Conolly Fr John Therry and Fr Phillip Conolly, Australia’s first official priests, arrive in Sydney. Fr Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta 1820 Father Conolly leaves for Hobart leaving Fr John Therry the only priest on mainland Australia 1840 Transportation of convicts to NSW is suspended 1850 The British government passed the Australian colonies Government act which allowed of Victoria and the Moreton bay settlements
