1866 in Australia

[edit] Events

February 1 - Arthur Macalister becomes Premier of Queensland
March 19 - Sister Mary MacKillop founds the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at Penola, South Australia.
April 17 - The Tariff Bill passes though the Parliament of Victoria; Australia's first protective tariffs become law the following day.
June 20 - Adelaide's town Hall opens
July 12 - SS Cawarra was wrecked off Newcastle, only 1 of 61 passengers and crew survive
July 18 - The passenger vessel Netherby is wrecked off King Island, all 450 on board survived
July 20 - Arthur Macalister resigns as Premier of Queensland during a bank crisis, he resumes his post on August 7 as the crisis eased
August 15 - John Manners-Sutton becomes Governor of Victoria
September 8 - The Blood or bread riots begin as unemployed men attempt to storm government stores; the riots continue to the 10th
October 24 - The Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia opens in Melbourne.
November 24 - Richard Dry becomes Premier of Tasmania
December 7 - John Granville Grenfell, gold commissioner, killed by bushrangers near Narromine