the Australian colonies By jpendo 1801 Matthew Flinders circumnavigates continent, which he names ‘Australia 1804 Convict uprising put down by New South Wales Corps 1808 The Rum Rebellion, in which Governor William Bligh is deposed by the New South Wales Corps 1820 Ex-convict Andrew Bent founds first free press in the Australian colonies 1822 First Commission of Inquiry into colonial affairs by John Thomas Bigge report published 1823 New South Wales Act (UK)' establishes Legislative Council for NSW 1827 Founding of the Colonial Museum (now the Australian Museum) – first museum in the country 1829 Settlement of Perth 1850 Gundagai flood the deadliest in Australian history 1854 Australia’s first railway line opens in Victoria 1861 First Melbourne Cup 1892 Jack Howe shears 321 sheep in one day using hand shears – a record that still stands