Victorian history timeline
Find ideas to add dept to your Victorian family history.
This timeline begins from the time of British settlement in Victoria. It includes key events likely to interest family historians.
9 Oct 1803 HMS Calcutta and supply ship Ocean with 402 people settled at Sullivan Bay, Port Phillip
May 1804 Sullivan Bay settlement abandoned
Nov 1826 Small convict settlement established at Corinella, Westernport
Apr 1828 Westernport settlement abandoned
Aug 1834 Port Phillip Association formed by group of Launceston investors
19 Nov 1834 Henty family from Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) established settlement at Portland
1835 Melbourne founded by John Batman. Unlit beacon established at Williamstown.
1836 Church birth death and marriage records start in Victoria (Port Phillip)
2 Sep 1836 Port Phillip census as part of NSW
Nov 1836 Census of sheep station owners, as part of NSW
12 Sep 1838 Census, as part of NSW
1840 Lighthouse established at Williamstown, Port Phillip
2 Mar 1841 Population census, as part of NSW
1842-43 Financial depression
1843 First parliamentary elections in Port Phillip. Only men with 200 pounds freehold or 20 pounds annual lease could vote. Sandstone lighthouse opened at Queenscliff
2 Mar 1846 Population census, as part of NSW (now destroyed)
Aug 1848 Cape Otway lighthouse opened in Victoria, Australia’s second mainland coastal light
1850 Voting eligibility changed. Men with 100 pounds freehold, 10 pounds annual lease or depasturing licence could vote.
1851 Gold rush starts in Victoria
6 Feb 1851 Black Thursday bushfires burnt 5 million hectares (a quarter of Victoria) and caused 12 fatalities
1 Mar 1851 Population census, as part of NSW (now destroyed)
1 Jul 1851 Colony of Victoria separated from New South Wales
11 Sep 1851 Elections for first Legislative Council of Victoria
6 Oct 1851 Melbourne Academy (Scotch College) opened
13 Nov 1851 Official opening of Victorian parliament
1852 Signal station established at Point Lonsdale, Victoria to help guide ships. Victorian census of Crown land occupiers
24 Dec 1852 Bushranger, Captain Frank Melville captured near Geelong, Victoria
1853 Wooden lighthouse opened at Queenscliff and Gabo Island lighthouse opened on east coast of Victoria
22 Jan 1853 Legislation passed to establish University of Melbourne
1 Jul 1853 Civil registration commenced in Victoria
26 Apr 1854 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
12 Sep 1854 First railway line in Australia opened between Melbourne and Sandridge, Victoria
3 Dec 1854 Eureka rebellion at Ballarat, Victoria
11 June 1855 Chinese Act received assent, limiting number of Chinese immigrants entering Victoria
8 Jan 1856 Melbourne first lit with gas
11 Feb 1856 Melbourne Public Library opened
19 Mar 1856 Electoral Act received assent, making Victoria the first place in the world to adopt secret ballot
12 May 1856 Eight hour day recognised
29 Mar 1857 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
24 Nov 1857 Voting eligibility changed. All male British subjects over 21 years could vote.
31 Dec 1857 Yan Yean Reservoir opened in Victoria
1859 Whaler’s Bluff (Portland), Griffith Island (Port Fairy), Middle Island (Warrnambool) and Beach (Warrnambool) lighthouses opened on far west coast of Victoria. Gellibrand Point Lightship (now Gellibrand Pile Light) established in Port Phillip. Cape Schanck and Wilson’s Promontory lighthouses opened on east coast of Victoria
21 Jul 1859 First Melbourne fire brigade opened
25 Dec 1859 Rabbits arrived in Melbourne
7 Apr 1861 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1862 Queenscliff white and black lighthouses replace earlier sandstone and wooden lights
1863 Yarra River (Melbourne) largest flood on record. Lighthouse replaces signal station at Point Lonsdale.
1870 Ovens River (Wangaratta) largest known flood, Murray River (Yarrawonga) largest known flood, Goulbourn, Campapse & Barwon River major floods
2 Apr 1871 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1871-72 Middle Island lighthouse relocated to Lady Bay Upper and Beach lighthouse relocated to Lady Bay Lower lighthouse
1874 South Channel Pile light and Eastern lighthouse opened in Port Phillip Bay
Dec 1878 Kelly gang raided National Bank at Euroa and Faithfull Creek station
Feb 1879 Kelly gang raided Bank of New South Wales at Jerilderie
Jun 1880 Kelly gang took hostages at Glenrowan hotel
11 Nov 1880 Ned Kelly hanged at Melbourne Gaol
1880s Economic boom
3 Apr 1881 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1884 Cape Nelson lighhouse opened on far west coast of Victoria and Cliffy Island lighthouse opened on east coast of Victoria
1890 Point Hicks lighthouse opened on east coast of Victoria
1891 Victorian women’s suffrage petition. Eagles Nest Point lighthouse opened (later Split Point) in Victoria
5 Apr 1891 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1893 Economic depression
1 Feb 1898 Red Tuesday bushfires burnt 260 000 hectares and caused fatalities in South Gippsland, Victoria
1 Jan 1901 Australian federation, Victoria became a state with Melbourne as the nation’s capital city
31 Mar 1901 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1906 Maribyrnong River (Footscray) largest flood on record
1908 Women over 21 years could vote.
1909 Major floods of Loddon, Avoca, Yarrowee, Glenelg and Wimmera Rivers
1913 Cape Liptrap and Citadel Island lighthouses opened on east coast
1916 Major floods of Murray and Goulbourn Rivers
1917 Major floods of Murray and Ovens Rivers
1920 Tambo River (Bruthen) largest flood on record
1924 Port Melbourne lighthouses opened Feb-Mar
1926 Bushfires in Gippsland caused 60 fatalities
1927 Canberra replaced Melbourne as the national capital
1934 Largest floods on record of Bunyip River (Koo Wee Rup), Moe River (Moe) and LaTrobe River (Rosedale). Major floods of Yarra River (Melbourne) and Yea River (Yea)
1936 Major flood of Mitchell River (Bairnsdale)
1937 Major flood of Bunyip River (Koo Wee Rup)
13 Jan 1939 Black Friday bushfires burnt 1.5 to 2 million hectares and caused 71 fatalities
22 Dec 1943 Bushfire near Wangaratta burnt 100 000 hectares and caused 10 fatalities
14 Jan-14 Feb 1944 Bushfires in the Western district caused 15-20 fatalities
1946 Major floods of Glenelg, Merri and Moyne Rivers
1951 Gippsland Lakes largest flood on record
5 Feb 1952 Bushfire near Benalla caused several fatalities
1956 Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games. Major floods of Murray River (Mildura) and Campapse River (Rochester)
14-16 Jan 1962 Bushfires in Dandenong Ranges and outer Melbourne caused 32 fatalities
17 Jan 1965 Grass fire near Longwood caused 7 fatalities
8 Jan 1969 Multiple bushfires burnt 250 000 hectares and caused 23 fatalities
Feb 1971 Major flood of Cann River
Feb 1973 Whiteheads Creek (Seymour) major flood
Oct 1974 Nhill Swamp highest recorded flood
12 Feb 1977 Grass fires in Western district burnt 103 000 hectares and caused 4 fatalities
Jun 1978 Thomson River (Sale) major flood
16 Feb 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires burnt 210 000 hectares and caused 47 fatalities
Oct 1993 Major floods of Ovens River (Wangaratta and Myrtleford) and Broken River (Benalla)
Sep 1998 Kiewa River (Kiewa) largest flood on record
Jun 2007 Macalister River (Glenmaggie) major flood
7 Feb 2009 Black Saturday bushfires burnt 430 000 hectares and caused 173 fatalities
Sep 2010 Widespread floods
Jan 2011 Floods affected one third of the state
Feb 2011 Further flash floods in previously affected areas.
9 Oct 1803 HMS Calcutta and supply ship Ocean with 402 people settled at Sullivan Bay, Port Phillip
May 1804 Sullivan Bay settlement abandoned
Nov 1826 Small convict settlement established at Corinella, Westernport
Apr 1828 Westernport settlement abandoned
Aug 1834 Port Phillip Association formed by group of Launceston investors
19 Nov 1834 Henty family from Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) established settlement at Portland
1835 Melbourne founded by John Batman. Unlit beacon established at Williamstown.
1836 Church birth death and marriage records start in Victoria (Port Phillip)
2 Sep 1836 Port Phillip census as part of NSW
Nov 1836 Census of sheep station owners, as part of NSW
12 Sep 1838 Census, as part of NSW
1840 Lighthouse established at Williamstown, Port Phillip
2 Mar 1841 Population census, as part of NSW
1842-43 Financial depression
1843 First parliamentary elections in Port Phillip. Only men with 200 pounds freehold or 20 pounds annual lease could vote. Sandstone lighthouse opened at Queenscliff
2 Mar 1846 Population census, as part of NSW (now destroyed)
Aug 1848 Cape Otway lighthouse opened in Victoria, Australia’s second mainland coastal light
1850 Voting eligibility changed. Men with 100 pounds freehold, 10 pounds annual lease or depasturing licence could vote.
1851 Gold rush starts in Victoria
6 Feb 1851 Black Thursday bushfires burnt 5 million hectares (a quarter of Victoria) and caused 12 fatalities
1 Mar 1851 Population census, as part of NSW (now destroyed)
1 Jul 1851 Colony of Victoria separated from New South Wales
11 Sep 1851 Elections for first Legislative Council of Victoria
6 Oct 1851 Melbourne Academy (Scotch College) opened
13 Nov 1851 Official opening of Victorian parliament
1852 Signal station established at Point Lonsdale, Victoria to help guide ships. Victorian census of Crown land occupiers
24 Dec 1852 Bushranger, Captain Frank Melville captured near Geelong, Victoria
1853 Wooden lighthouse opened at Queenscliff and Gabo Island lighthouse opened on east coast of Victoria
22 Jan 1853 Legislation passed to establish University of Melbourne
1 Jul 1853 Civil registration commenced in Victoria
26 Apr 1854 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
12 Sep 1854 First railway line in Australia opened between Melbourne and Sandridge, Victoria
3 Dec 1854 Eureka rebellion at Ballarat, Victoria
11 June 1855 Chinese Act received assent, limiting number of Chinese immigrants entering Victoria
8 Jan 1856 Melbourne first lit with gas
11 Feb 1856 Melbourne Public Library opened
19 Mar 1856 Electoral Act received assent, making Victoria the first place in the world to adopt secret ballot
12 May 1856 Eight hour day recognised
29 Mar 1857 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
24 Nov 1857 Voting eligibility changed. All male British subjects over 21 years could vote.
31 Dec 1857 Yan Yean Reservoir opened in Victoria
1859 Whaler’s Bluff (Portland), Griffith Island (Port Fairy), Middle Island (Warrnambool) and Beach (Warrnambool) lighthouses opened on far west coast of Victoria. Gellibrand Point Lightship (now Gellibrand Pile Light) established in Port Phillip. Cape Schanck and Wilson’s Promontory lighthouses opened on east coast of Victoria
21 Jul 1859 First Melbourne fire brigade opened
25 Dec 1859 Rabbits arrived in Melbourne
7 Apr 1861 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1862 Queenscliff white and black lighthouses replace earlier sandstone and wooden lights
1863 Yarra River (Melbourne) largest flood on record. Lighthouse replaces signal station at Point Lonsdale.
1870 Ovens River (Wangaratta) largest known flood, Murray River (Yarrawonga) largest known flood, Goulbourn, Campapse & Barwon River major floods
2 Apr 1871 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1871-72 Middle Island lighthouse relocated to Lady Bay Upper and Beach lighthouse relocated to Lady Bay Lower lighthouse
1874 South Channel Pile light and Eastern lighthouse opened in Port Phillip Bay
Dec 1878 Kelly gang raided National Bank at Euroa and Faithfull Creek station
Feb 1879 Kelly gang raided Bank of New South Wales at Jerilderie
Jun 1880 Kelly gang took hostages at Glenrowan hotel
11 Nov 1880 Ned Kelly hanged at Melbourne Gaol
1880s Economic boom
3 Apr 1881 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1884 Cape Nelson lighhouse opened on far west coast of Victoria and Cliffy Island lighthouse opened on east coast of Victoria
1890 Point Hicks lighthouse opened on east coast of Victoria
1891 Victorian women’s suffrage petition. Eagles Nest Point lighthouse opened (later Split Point) in Victoria
5 Apr 1891 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1893 Economic depression
1 Feb 1898 Red Tuesday bushfires burnt 260 000 hectares and caused fatalities in South Gippsland, Victoria
1 Jan 1901 Australian federation, Victoria became a state with Melbourne as the nation’s capital city
31 Mar 1901 Victorian population census (now destroyed)
1906 Maribyrnong River (Footscray) largest flood on record
1908 Women over 21 years could vote.
1909 Major floods of Loddon, Avoca, Yarrowee, Glenelg and Wimmera Rivers
1913 Cape Liptrap and Citadel Island lighthouses opened on east coast
1916 Major floods of Murray and Goulbourn Rivers
1917 Major floods of Murray and Ovens Rivers
1920 Tambo River (Bruthen) largest flood on record
1924 Port Melbourne lighthouses opened Feb-Mar
1926 Bushfires in Gippsland caused 60 fatalities
1927 Canberra replaced Melbourne as the national capital
1934 Largest floods on record of Bunyip River (Koo Wee Rup), Moe River (Moe) and LaTrobe River (Rosedale). Major floods of Yarra River (Melbourne) and Yea River (Yea)
1936 Major flood of Mitchell River (Bairnsdale)
1937 Major flood of Bunyip River (Koo Wee Rup)
13 Jan 1939 Black Friday bushfires burnt 1.5 to 2 million hectares and caused 71 fatalities
22 Dec 1943 Bushfire near Wangaratta burnt 100 000 hectares and caused 10 fatalities
14 Jan-14 Feb 1944 Bushfires in the Western district caused 15-20 fatalities
1946 Major floods of Glenelg, Merri and Moyne Rivers
1951 Gippsland Lakes largest flood on record
5 Feb 1952 Bushfire near Benalla caused several fatalities
1956 Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games. Major floods of Murray River (Mildura) and Campapse River (Rochester)
14-16 Jan 1962 Bushfires in Dandenong Ranges and outer Melbourne caused 32 fatalities
17 Jan 1965 Grass fire near Longwood caused 7 fatalities
8 Jan 1969 Multiple bushfires burnt 250 000 hectares and caused 23 fatalities
Feb 1971 Major flood of Cann River
Feb 1973 Whiteheads Creek (Seymour) major flood
Oct 1974 Nhill Swamp highest recorded flood
12 Feb 1977 Grass fires in Western district burnt 103 000 hectares and caused 4 fatalities
Jun 1978 Thomson River (Sale) major flood
16 Feb 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires burnt 210 000 hectares and caused 47 fatalities
Oct 1993 Major floods of Ovens River (Wangaratta and Myrtleford) and Broken River (Benalla)
Sep 1998 Kiewa River (Kiewa) largest flood on record
Jun 2007 Macalister River (Glenmaggie) major flood
7 Feb 2009 Black Saturday bushfires burnt 430 000 hectares and caused 173 fatalities
Sep 2010 Widespread floods
Jan 2011 Floods affected one third of the state
Feb 2011 Further flash floods in previously affected areas.
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Sources
Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Electoral Commission Australian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Lighthouses of Australia Inc Parliament of Victoria State Flood Policy Committee State Library of Victoria |
