The History of the Catholic Church in Australia

By Maddison Tebbet
  • 1520

    1520

    Portuguese sailors explore some of the northern and southern coast.

  • 1606

    A Spaniard,de Quiros,calls Vanuatu 'La Australia del Spiritu Santo'

  • 1766

    French sailors reach and describe the Great Barrier Reef.

  • 1770

    Captain Cook arrives at Botany Bay.

  • 1788

    The First Fleet arrives at Sydney Cove. The first Anglican service is held on 3rd of February,1788. The French Catholic chaplin, Pere Receveur, possibly said Mass about the same time. He died there and is buried at La Perouse.

  • 1789

    Smallpox kills half of the Aborigines in the Sydney area

  • 1800

    Fathers Harold,O'Neil and Dixon, the first convict priests arrive.

  • 1803

    The first public Mass is offered by Father Dixon

  • 1805

    Fathers Harold,O'Neil and Dixon sent back to England

  • 1817

    Father Jeremiah O'Flynn arrived from England without permission

  • 1820

    Fathers Therry and Connolly the first offical priests arrive

  • 1821

    Father Connolly goes to Tasmania and builds the first Catholic Chrich in Australia

  • 1825

    European settlement in Western Australia the Swan River Colony

  • 1829

    End of the English penal laws against Catholics

  • 1832

    JH Plunkett becomes solicitor general and Roger Therry a judge.

  • 1833

    Father Ullathorne arrives in Sydney

  • 1834

    The Henty Brothers begin a settlement in Victoria

  • 1835

    John Bede Polding becomes Australia's first Catholic bishop

  • 1836

    Ullathrone celebrates the first mass in South Australia

  • 1838

    Sisters of Charity come to Sydney and begin Australia's first non-military hospital.

  • 1929

    James Scullin is elected Prime Minister.

  • 1930's

    The Great Depression and the start of Catholic Action.

  • 1931

    Father PJ Moloney begins the Palm Island and Fantome Island mission.

  • 1934

    Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne

  • 1935

    Fathers PJ Moloney and Frank McGarry begin a school for Aborigines at Alice Springs

  • 1936

    The Grail begins in Australia

  • 1939-1945

    Second World War

  • 1940

    The beginning of "The Movement"

  • 1945

    Dr Woodbury begins the Aquinas Academy in Sydney

  • 1946

    Post-war migration from Europe begins

  • 1950

    The bishops'letter' makes all migrants feel at home

  • 1952

    Father Peyton: 'The family that prays together stays together'

  • 1954

    The Week of Prayer for Christians begins

  • 1955

    The Labor Party split

  • 1955-56

    Many new Catholic schools

  • 1958

    Ukrainian bishop in Australia

  • 1961

    Publication of "The Living Parish Hymn Book".

  • 1962

    The Second Vatican Council commences. The Goulburn School Strike

  • 1963

    Pope John XXIII dies and Paul VI is elected

  • 1964

    Government money is given for Australian Catholic schools

  • 1965

    Project Compassion is started

  • 1967

    Pope Paul VI writes Populorum Progessio ('The progress of peoples').

  • 1968

    The Pope writes Humanae Vitae('Of human life').

  • 1970

    Paul VI becomes the first pope to ever visit Australia.

  • 1971

    Neville Bonner becomes the first Aboriginal member of parliament.

  • 1972

    Action for World Development

  • 1973

    First Maronite bishop in Australia.

  • 1974

    Marriage Encounter spreads to Australia.

  • 1975

    First National women's conference.First Aboriginal priest ordained.

  • 1976

    Rome declares that Australia is no longer a mission country.

  • 1979

    Outlook magazine commences

  • 1980

    The first Catholic lay people graduate in theology.

  • 1982

    Women's movement in the Catholic Church.

  • 1986

    Pope John II visits Australia.

  • 1987

    First Melkite bishop arrives

  • 1995

    Beatification of Mary MacKillop

  • 2000

    The Jubilee Year.

  • 2008

    World Youth Day held in Sydney.

  • 2010

    Mary MacKillop canonisation in Rome.