La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first Mass within Australian territory
First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay
Fr James Dixon and two other priests arrested as part of the 1798 Irish Rebellion are transported to New South Wales as convicts
Castle Hill Rebellion results in Fr Dixon’s permit to conduct Mass being withdrawn
Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly, Australia’s first official priests, arrive in Sydney.
Fr Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Fr Therry as official chaplain to the growing colony.
Fr Power dies
Bishop Polding arrives in Hobart and a short time later sails for Sydney. His Vicariate covers the whole of Australia including Tasmania. The newly-completed St Mary’s Chapel is consecrated as St Mary’s Cathedral.
Archbishop Polding consecrates Fr Francis Murphy as Bishop of Adelaide in the first episcopal conscration to take place in Australia.
Mary MacKillop becomes the first Sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph
The Archbishop’s Official Residence at Manly is completed
Death of Mother Mary MacKillop
World War I declared. Catholics become influential in the Australian Labor Party
Archbishop Michael Kelly dies. Archbishop Gilroy becomes Archbishop of Sydney
Bishop Freeman is consecrated by Cardinal Gilroy
Pope Paul VI makes the first-ever Papal visit to Australia
Rome declares that Australia is no longer a mission country
Pope John Paul II visits Australia.
Restoration
Pope Benedict XVI makes his first visit to Australia when the Archdiocese of Sydney hosts World Youth Day 2008