Bendigo Petition and Red Ribbon Rebellion at Bendigo

The Eureka Stockade

The transportation of convicts to Norfolk Island ceases.

Van Diemen's Land name changed to Tasmania.

Victorian Committee reported that a 'federal union' would be in the interests of all the growing colonies. However, there was not enough interest in or enthusiasm for taking positive steps towards bringing the colonies together.

Sydney and Melbourne linked by electric telegraph.

SS Admella wrecked off south-east coast of South Australia with the loss of 89 lives.

John McDouall Stuart reaches the centre of the continent. South Australian border changed from 132 degrees E to 129 degrees E.

The ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition occurs.

Stuart reaches Port Darwin, founding a settlement there. Queensland's western border is moved to 139 degrees E.

South Australia takes control of the Northern Territory which was part of the colony of New South Wales.

1852 living in Mullaghboy, Parrish Currin, County Monaghan. Arrived in Victoria, Australia 1865/6 with parents, Mary Ann, Ann Jane 12, David 10, Mary Ellenor 5, maybe others?

Gold is discovered at Gympie, Queensland.

The transportation of convicts to Western Australia ceases.

Children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are removed from their families by Australian and State government agencies.

Overland Telegraph Line linking Darwin and Adelaide opens.

Uluru is first sighted by Europeans, and named Ayers Rock.

To Miss Margaret Tailor, Drumsoad, Clones, County Monaghan. 14th April, 1874. Dear Margaret, I now take up my pen to rite these few lines to you oping to find you quite well as we are at present; your uncle recieved your letter and we where verry glad to here from you and we who would be verry glad to see you out here. And whill you make up your mind to come out here if we send for you. You uncle has taking up some land end they whill be leaving us along a.d we shall mis them verry mutch. Ann Jane and me whould like you to come and stay whith us has they are going so far away from us. If you make up your mind to come out don't get to mutch dress or clothing for they whill be no good out here. You whirl get plenty with. us. I hope you have got no notion of getting married yet. You better wait till you come out here and se some of the native boys. This is the countrey to get married in. I have got a brother that is waiting for your Ann Jane says that if you whas out here that you would never think of ever going home againe. She says if she had a fortune she should never go home. She likes this countrey very mutch. That is for myself i never new what the old countrey is. I am a native of Australia Ann Jane whould like you to send your likeness and she whill send you ours next time. Girls' wages are from 10 to 15s and mans' wages are from 2 to £3 a week. You must excuse our short letter. We have got not mutch to say this time. We whill rite more next time and let you no more. Rite and let us no a little more about the old countrey and how you are situated. We have no more to say at present but we remain your effectionate cousins John and Ann Jane Sherry. P.S. Write a piece of a enclosure in fathers letter for us. John & Amn Jane Sherry Clunes, Victoria, Australia

SS Gothenburg strikes Old Reef off North Queensland and sinks with the loss of approximately 102 lives.

First horse-drawn trams in Australia commenced operations in Adelaide.

The first congress of trade unions is held.

The bushranger Ned Kelly is hanged.

First water-borne sewerage service in Australia commenced operations in Adelaide.

The opening of the Sydney-Melbourne railway

An Australian cricket team is established, defeating England in the first Ashes series. First direct Inter-colonial passenger trains begin running between Adelaide and Melbourne.

The completion of the railway network between Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

The Australian Federation Conference calls a constitutional convention.

A National Australasian Convention meets, agrees on adopting the name 'the Commonwealth of Australia' and drafting a constitution.

Gold is discovered at Coolgardie, Western Australia.

The Corowa Conference (the 'people's convention') calls on the colonial parliaments to pass enabling acts, allowing the election of delegates to a new constitutional convention aimed at drafting a proposal and putting it to a referendum in each colony.

South Australia becomes the first Australian colony, and the second place in the world, to grant women the right to vote, as well the first Parliament in the world to allow women to stand for office.

The premiers, except for those of Queensland and Western Australia, agree to implement the Corowa proposals.

The Bathurst Conference (the second 'people's convention') meets to discuss the 1891 draft constitution

In two sessions, the Second National Australasian Convention meets (with representatives from all colonies except Queensland present). They agree to adopt a constitution based on the 1891 draft, and then revise and amend it later that year.

The Convention agrees on a final draft to be put to the people.

The decision is made to site the national capital in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney.

Several delegates visit London to resist proposed changes to the agreed-upon constitution.

(01 Jan) Australia becomes a federation on 1 January. Edmund Barton becomes Prime Minister; the 7th Earl of Hopetoun becomes Governor-General

The Franchise Act guarantees women the right to vote in federal elections (by this stage, most states had already done this). However, it excludes most non-European ethnic groups, including Aboriginal people, unless already registered to vote on State roles.

The High Court of Australia is established with Samuel Griffith as the first Chief Justice.

A site at Dalgety, New South Wales chosen for the new national capital

Australia takes control of south-eastern New Guinea

Dorothea Mackellar publishes My Country

The first powered aeroplane flight in Australia is made.

Andrew Fisher forms the first federal majority Labor government.

The Royal Australian Navy is founded

Australia sends women to the Olympic Games for the first time

Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth cross the Blue Mountains.

The foundation stone for the city of Canberra is put in place

Australian soldiers are sent to the First World War. This was first time Australians had fought under the Australian flag, as opposed to that of Britain's.

(25 APRIL)Australian soldiers land at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April.

Hotels are forced to close at 6 p.m., leading to the beginning of the 'six o'clock swill'

Second referendum on conscription is rejected. Transcontinental railway linking Adelaide to Perth is completed.

(08 AUG) Battle of Amiens

Prime Minister Billy Hughes signs Treaty of Versailles: the first signing of an international treaty by Australia. Australia obtains League of Nations mandate over German New Guinea.

The airline Qantas is founded

Edith Cowan becomes the first woman elected to an Australian parliament

The Smith Family charity is founded in Sydney

Vegemite is first produced

The first Miss Australia contest is held

The tenth parliament is formally opened in Canberra, finalising the move to the new capital