History of Tasmania
Tasmania discovered in 1642
- 1642
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Abel Tasman makes landfall on the Heemskirk and Zeehan on November 24th 1642
1700 - 1799
- 1772
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French Navigator Marion du Fresne anchored his ships Mascarin and Castries in Fredreic Hendric Bay, now known as Marion Bay
- 1773
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Furneaux visited Adventure Bay
- 1777
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Capt James Cook visited Adventure Bay on his third and last voyage
- 1789
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Cox visited Adventure Bay
- 1788
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Capt William Bligh visited Adventure Bay
- 1792
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Capt William Bligh visited Adventure Bay
Admiral Bruny D'Entrecasteaux directed by National Assembly to search for the missing La Perouse and anchored the Esperance and Recherche at Recherche Bay
Entered channel prior to departure for New Caledonia
- 1793
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D'Entrecasteaux returned to channel and surveyed Norfolk Bay and the upper reaches of the Derwent. Charts made by D'Entrecasteaux were unknown to the British who later duplicated much of the work!
- 1794
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1794 Lieut John Hayes reaches Storm Bay and explores Derwent
- 1798
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Matthew Flinders and George Bass prove Van Diemen's Land is an island in the Norfolk
1800 - 1849
- 1802
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Commander Nicholas Baudin sights De Witt Island
Lieutenant Charles Robbins lands on King Island and proclaims Van Diemen's Land a British possession
- 1803
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The Albion ( 326t) under the command of Captain Ebor Bunker reaches Risdon Cove ahead of the Lady Nelson on 12th September 1803 with Lieut John Bowen to establish the settlement:
- Civil Establishment;
- Lieut Bowen
- Dr Jacob Mountgarret, Surgeon of the Glatton
- Mr Wilson - Storekeeper
- 1 lance-corporal of NSW corps
- 7 privates
- 21 male convicts
- 3 female convicts
- Mr & Mrs Birt - free settler
- Mr Clark - stonemason
- Unknown overseer
- Unknown male
- Two unknown females
James Meehan arrives to conduct the first surveys
- 1804
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David Collins establishes convict settlement at Hobart on the Derwent River in Van Diemen's Land
William Paterson establishes second settlement in Van Diemen's Land, named George Town, on Tamar River
- 1810
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Governor Lachlan Macquarie takes office and Ellis Bent becomes the Colony's third deputy judge advocate
- 1811
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Governor Macquarie inspects Van Diemen's Land, sets out town design for Hobart
- 1814
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Charter of Justice 2 April 1814 (UK)
Establishing law and order in Van Diemen's Land
- 1824
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George Arthur becomes Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land
Sir John Pedder becomes Chief Justice of Van Diemen's Land
- 1825
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Order- in-Council separating Van Diemen's Land from New South Wales 14 June
Legislative and Executive Councils established in Van Diemen's Land
- 1830
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Governor Arthur establishes penal settlement of Port Arthur on Tasman Peninsula
Tasmania's 'Black Line' - Governor Arthur attempts to force Aboriginal people onto the Tasman Peninsula
- 1831
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Emigration Commissioners established in London to promote emigration to Australian colonies
- 1833
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In Van Diemen's Land, civilian juries used for certain criminal trials
- 1835
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John Batman explores Port Phillip Bay and Yarra River; makes a treaty with Aboriginal people but Governor Bourke disallows it
George Robinson appointed Protector of the Aboriginal people removed to Flinders Island in Bass Strait
Anti-Transportation League founded in Sydney
- 1837
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Queen Victoria crowned
Church Act in Van Diemen's Land
- 1840
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In Diemen's Land, military juries for criminal trials abolished
Oder-in-Council ending transportation of convicts 22 May 1840 (UK)
The hated convict system given its notice
- 1846
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Aboriginal people on Flinders Island in Bass Strait petition Queen Victoria
- 1847
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Anti-transportation movement begins in Van Diemen's Land
1850 - 1899
- 1850
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South Australia, Van Diemen's Land and Victoria gain two-thirds elected legislatures
- 1851
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edwardian rushes begin in New South Wales and Victoria
Victoria separates from New South Wales
- 1853
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Last convicts transported to Van Diemen's Land
- 1955
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Constitution Act 1855 (Tas)
Parliamentary self-government
Order-in-Council changing name to Tasmania 21 July 1855 (UK). A new identity
- 1856
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Responsible government in South Australia and Tasmania
- 1869
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Tasmania and Victoria connected by telegraph
- 1870
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British troops withdrawn from the Australian colonies; each established own forces
- 1875
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Macquarie Manor built
- 1896
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Tasmania and Victoria pass Federation Enabling Acts
- 1898
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People in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia vote 'yes' in referendum for Federation
- 1899
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Second referendums on the Australian Constitution succeed in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia
Secret Premiers conference in Melbourne
Boer War begins in South Africa, colonial troops embark to support British forces
1900 -2001
- 1900
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Royal Commission of Assent 9 July 1900 (UK)
Signed by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 July 1900, this beautiful document established the Commonwealth of Australia
Governor-General appoints Edmund Barton first Prime Minister of Australia
- 1901
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The Commonwealth of Australia is inaugurated on 1 January
King Edward VII succeeds to throne after death of Queen Victoria
Commonwealth Parliament opens in Melbourne
Australian flag flown for the first time
- 1903
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Women in Tasmania win right to vote in State elections
- 1912
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Special grants started by Commonwealth to Tasmania
- 1934
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Constitution Act 1934 (Tas)
Guarantee of religious and civil liberty for Tasmanians
- 1943
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Dame Dorothy Tangney (Senate) and Dame Edith Lyons (House of Representatives) first women elected to Federal Parliament
- 1983
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High Court upholds Commonwealth authority in Franklin Dam Case
- 1995
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Aboriginal Land Act 1995 (Tas). Reconciliation at last?
- 2001
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Centenary of Federation