History of the Church in Australia

By Daniele02@dowstu.catholic.edu.au

  • La Perouse enters Botany Bay.

    Celebrates with the first mass in Australian territory

  • First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • First Public Mass

  • Fr John Therry and Fr Phillip Conolly arrived.

    They became Australia’s first Priests, and arrived in Sydney.

  • Australia’s First Census is held

    It reveals a white population of 36,598 which includes both free settlers and convicts. Among these, 25,248 are protestants and 11,236 are Catholics.

  • Penal laws preventing Catholics holding Government positions ended.

  • St Mary’s Chapel was finally completed.

    Fr Therry celebrates the first mass there.

  • 5 sisters of Charity arrive in Sydney

    They have a mission to help the poor and disadvantaged

  • The Sisters of Charity established St Vincent’s hospital in the centre of Sydney

    Is free services for all people, especially the poor.

  • A fire destroys St Mary’s Cathedral

  • Mary Mackillop becomes the first Sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph

  • NSW Catholic Bishops issue a Joint Pastoral Letter

    It that catholics must send their children to Catholic schools.

  • First St Vincent DePaul Society

  • Cardinal Moran Dies and is succeeded by Archbishop Kelly

    The Archdiocese now has 189 Churches and 8 hospitals

  • Formation of the Catholic Teachers Federation

  • Australia’s First Prime Minister

    James Scullin becomes Australia’s First Prime Minister

  • Sydney now has 366 Catholic Schools

    They also have 115,704 pupils in these schools

  • Restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral begins.