Timeline of Australian Church By dkuer 1803 First Public Mass Said by Father Dixon 1820 Fathers Therry and Colony, the first official priest arrive 1821 Construction of the first Catholic Church in Richmond, Tasmania begins 1848 The Catholic church in Australia is divided into provinces and dioceses 1861 Mercy sisters arrive in queensland 1865 St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney destroyed by fire 1868 Christian brothers arrive in Melbourne 1871 Completion of St Patricks Cathedral, Ballarat 1909 Death of Mary McKillop 1923 Archbishop Mannix founds Corpus Christi College 1946 Archbishop Gillroy becomes first Australian Cardinal 1989 Opening of St Patricks Seminary, Manly