CATHERINE was the daughter of Donald and Flora McKay (nee Nicholson) from the Isle of Skye. The McKay family lived on the shores of the Loch Snizort at Tote, near Portree. They were small crofters, and together with many other families were forced off their properties by wealthy absentee landlords, who found that the breeding of sheep was more profitable than leasing land to poor crofters. The decision to come to Australia was influenced by the all-important function of life ... survival. With the youngest six of their eight children, Donald and Flora Mckay joined a total of three hundred and seventy-eight passengers from the Isle of Skye, and embarked on the sailing ship "Georgiana" at Glasgow, on 13th July 1852. They arrived at Geelong, via the Cape of Good Hope, on 16th October 1852. Their daughter Catherine was then aged 12 years.

Australia's first municipal authority, the City of Adelaide, is established, followed by Sydney City Council.

New Zealand is proclaimed as a separate colony, no longer part of New South Wales.

Copper is discovered at Kapunda in South Australia.

Australia's first parliamentary elections held for the New South Wales Legislative Council (though voting rights are restricted to males of certain wealth or property).

The ship Cataraqui is wrecked off King Island in Bass Strait. It is Australia's worst civil maritime disaster, with 406 lives lost.

Western Australia becomes a penal colony.

Victoria separates from New South Wales.

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.

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.

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