If Social Media existed back then, what would our ancestors have been talking about? Taken from year books, Almanacs and newspapers, follows is a list of notable events that occurred in these years. Includes disasters, severe weather, notable people, milestones, construction, inaugurations and other significant events. Obviously, this list references recorded events only and is not exhaustive.

JANUARY 1873

• 2nd – N.S.W, Government accepted tenders from Messrs. Mort Co., at Sydney for 18 locomotives. — — Newcastle miners struck work, N.S.W.
• 5th – Thermometer in the shade, 98° 4″ V. — Two reef claims at Yam Creek, N.T., sold for £2,000.
• 6th – First annual meeting of V. Institute of Architects, Melbourne. — Schooner Coquette wrecked at Clarence Heads, N.S.W.
• 8th – Dr. Featherstone elected President of Victoria Medical Society. — The coach fare from Launceston to Hobart Town, T., reduced to 10s. — Tin miners at Stanthorpe, Q., struck for 50s. a week wages. — Price of coal in Melbourne, 60s. per ton. — Captain Witherington of the schooner Kate Grant, and J. McDougal, charterer, charged with kidnapping Polynesians, at Sydney.
• 11th – Number of visitors at the Exhibition, 4,630, V. — J. S. Butters, ex-mayor of Melbourne, on a visit to that city from Fiji. — Steam tug Tamar wrecked near Redhead, N.S.W.
• 14th – The contributions for 1872 to Melbourne Hospital amounted to £6,100. — Great flood on the Condamine river, Q. — Schooner “Helen” wrecked near Pt. Macquarie, N.S.W.
• 15th – Bendigo Miners races held, V. — Concert in the Botanical Gardens in aid of the funds for the Hospital for Sick Children, V. — Melbourne city property sold at from £42 to £65 per foot.
• 17th – Sir G. F. Bowen elected president of Melbourne Benevolent Asylum. — S.A. Savings Bank pay five per cent on deposits.
• 18th – Temperature in the shade, 95°. — Mr. Francis, Premier, and Mr. Langton, Treasurer, sailed for Sydney to attend Intercolonial conference. — Victorian Exhibition closed. — Mr. Michie, Q.C., returned from England. — Great floods in N. Queensland.
• 20th – Sir Alfred Stephen, Chief Justice of N.S.W., arrived in Melbourne. — Sydney Exchange Company declared a dividend of 5s. per share, the first in 18 years.
• 22nd – N.S.W. Assembly negatived Mr. Foster’s motion in favour of secular education.
• 23rd – Cost of the new Temperance Hall, Melb., £6,368. — Sydney Government gave a picnic to Conference delegates at the Blue Mountains.
• 25th – Shock of earthquake at Binnan, S.A.
• 26th – Thanksgiving services for abundant harvest in Adelaide. — Thomas Russell, M.P. for Grenville, entertained by his constituents at Rokewood. — Property in Melb. realized at the rate of £517 per foot frontage.
• 28th – Ramsden’s paper mills partly destroyed, Melb.
• 29th – Intense heat at Melbourne. — Large fire in George Street, Sydney: estimated loss, £15,000. — Mudgee mail “stuck up” and robbed by bushrangers, mail bags carried off, N.S.W. — Last years yield of gold in N.S.W. amounted to £392,768 ounces.

FEBRUARY 1873

• 1st – Discovery of 13lb. nugget at Smythesdale, V. — Funeral of Mr. W S F Murray, of the firm of Greig Murray, Melbourne. — Pedestrian Edwards walked seven miles in 59 min. 37 sec., at Wangaratta, V. — Mr. Chas. Gould, F.G.S., visited Tasmania to inspect and report on its gold-fields.
• 3rd – A meteor of great brilliancy observed throughout V. at 9.30 p.m. — Navvies imported for railway works, Launceston, T., per Essex, struck for higher wages, concessions made and accepted.
• 4th – Tenders for £500,000 4 per cent. V. — Government Stock, opened at Melbourne, 13,100 only accepted at minimum of 100. — Polonaise from Rockhampton, Q., to London with a large cargo of wool wrecked on a reef S.W. of Mast Island, insured for £31,000; passengers and crew saved. Disastrous floods at Normanton, Q., with loss of life. — Fire at Rockhampton, Q.
• 6th – Heavy storm of rain with thunder and lightning at Melb. and suburbs. — Parliamentary banquet to the Inter-colonial delegates N.S.W. Government at Sydney. — First colonial made locomotive delivered to Victoria Government.
• 7th – Newcastle coal miners on strike resumed work, N.S.W.
• 8th – Monsoon blowing at Port Darwin, S.A., with heavy storms of rain.
• 10th – 778,000 oz. of gold coined last year at Sydney Mint, N.S.W. Telegrams from Pt. Darwin report large yields of gold and splendid country at the head of the Daly river.
• 11th – Schooner Hirondelle struck on “Sow and Pigs,” and sank in Darling harbour, N.S.W. Schooner – Kangaroo wrecked off Cape Elizabeth S A
• 12th -Sydney Insurance Companies purchased the wreck of Polonaise for £1,365, NSW.
• 13th – New theatre opened at Wellington, N.Z.
• 14th – Beechworth races and Ararat races, V. Large fire at Christchurch, loss of £13,000, N.Z.
• 15th – Foundation stone of new Temperance Hall laid by Viscount Canterbury. Extraordinary flight of grasshoppers at Smythesdale V. Rowing Champion match between Rush and Hickey, won by Rush, N.S.W
• 16th – Extensive bushfires at Mount Gambier SA
• 17th – Thermometer 100° in the shade at Warnambool, V
• 18th – Great flood with loss of property at Dunolly, V. Violent Thunderstorm at Melbourne.
• 19th – Sydney Four-in-hand Club first turn out; six teams headed by Governor’s drag, NSW
• 20th – Farewell banquet to His Excellency Viscount Canterbury at Town Hall Melb. Deep-sea fishing Company projected at Melbourne. Grand Agricultural show at Adelaide SA. Severe storm at Inglewood, V. Monster picnic of school children at Geelong. Gold cup prize for best Merino wool awarded to Mr C B Fisher at the Agricultural Show, Adelaide. Tasmanian Turf Club Derby won by Leo
• 22nd – Argus and Australasian held their annual Wayz-goose. Heavy thunderstorm at Bathurst NSW
• 24th – Annual meeting of Victoria Zoological Society. F. A. B. Koch’s plans accepted for new hay market
• 25th – Hon A Michie QC appointed Agent General in London for Victoria
• 26th – Seam of coal discovered at Fingal. T Mate and 17 of the crew of the schooner “France” massacred by natives of New Guinea. Dr Tracey presented with a testimonial and purse of sovereigns. Earl Canterbury’s last levee in Victoria
• 28th – Intercolonial cricket match at Sydney commenced. First meeting of Queensland National Bank. Tenders called by S A Government for railway from Kingston to Narracoote.

MARCH 1873

• 1st – Viscount and Viscountess Canterbury sailed for England by RMSS Mooltan, V.
• 2nd – Foundation stone of RC Ch St Allpius laid at Ballarat. SS Atrato arrived with 487 immigrants.
• 3rd – Large fire in Melbourne at Messrs Watson and Co premises. Sir F Stawell sworn in as Acting Govenor. Claims at Araluen, NSW, flooded: miners stopped work.
• 4th – Adelaide Coal Co declared 10 per cent dividend, SA. The “Mercury” laden with rice, arrived in Sydney in 22 days from Yokohama.
• 5th – Twelth meeting in the Victorian Society of the Blues. Sir James Ferguson appointed Rev Mr Hare of Perth his private Secretary and domestic chaplain, SA.
• 6th – Property in Melbourne sold for £18,000: 48ft frontage and 200ft depth. Bathurst races, NSW.
• 7th – Tamworth races and Victorian Racing Club Autumn meeting. 3000 hands employed in the hop picking at New Norfolk, T.
• 8th – £250,000 expended during the last ten years on public and private buildings in Adelaide, SA. 375 diamonds received at Sydney from Bingera, NSW.
• 9th – Splendid aurora visible at Adelaide, SA.
• 10th – Annual Meeting of the Royal Society of Victoria, professory Ellery re elected president.
• 11th – Rush to the Gulgong diggings, NSW. Funeral of Mr CH McKinght, an old colonist at Belfast.
• 12th – Victorian Bar gave a dmner at Melbourne Athenaeum to Sir W. F. Stawell, Chief-Justice, on the eve of his departure from V. Great fire in Dunedin, NZ
• 13th – Victorian Agricultural show at Heidelberg, V. “Dayspring”, missionary narque, wrecked at Antietum. A copper lode dicovered in the bed of Onkaparinga river, SA. Brisbane Marine Board suspended the certificate of the captain of the “Polonaise”.
• 14th – Great cattle sale at Albury, NSW, 2,500 head realized £16,000.
• 15th – Heavy thunderstorm at Sydney, NSW. Cricket match, Victoria v Tasmania, won by former.
• 16th – The SA Governmental residency attacked by blacks of Port Darwin.
• 17th – Kyneton Racing Club annual meeting, V. Ball and supper at St Patrick’s Hall, Melbourne.
• 18th – The Mount Keira colliers, NSW, resumed work. Chief Justice sworn in as acting governor of New Zealand.
• 19th – The N.E. Railway from Longwood to Violet Town, V., opened. Large shoals of pilchards netted in Hobson’s Bay Cricket match, fourteen of Hobart Town. v.eleven of Victoria; won by former.
• 21st – Annual Grain Show of the Ballarat Agricultural Society held.
• 22nd – Rev. Andrew Thompson gazetted Principal of Presbyterian College, Sydney, N.S.W. Gold found at Tumbling Waters, Northern Territory. 100 tons of flax grown at Willunga. S.A., during the past year.
• 24th – Hon. D. Moore appointed Commissioner of Victorian Savings Banks.
• 25th – Funeral of R. B. Gibbs, an old colonist. V.
• 26th – Sir W. F. Stawell, Chief Justice and Acting Governor of Victoria, sailed for England by S.S. “ Somersetshire.”
• 28th – The six-furnace retort house of Adelaide Gas Company opened, S.A.
• 30th – Steamer “Vesta” wrecked at Richmond River bar, N.S.W. Great fire at Newcastle, N.S.W. Foundation-stone of Roman Catholic
• church laid at Stawell.
• 31st – Sir George Bowen sworn in as Governor of Victoria. Mr. T. S. Butters of Fiji, visits Melbourne. Gold leader found at Barossa, S.A.

APRIL 1873

• 1st – N.S.W. Parliament voted £50,000 for immigration purposes. Major Henry D. Pitt, R.A., gazetted A.D.C. to his Excellency the Governor of Victoria. Foundation-stone of New Scot’s Church’ Melbourne, laid. Great banquet at Ballarat on the completion of first Victorian railway locomotive, V. New gold reef discovered at Echunga, S.A.
• 3rd – N.S.W. Exhibition opened by Sir Hercules Robinson, at Sydney. Telegraphic communication established with Wilson’s Promontory, V.
• 4th – Felix Kabat arrested on charge of forgery, V. First day of Melbourne regatta ; great success, V. Iron discovered at Richmond, T.
• 5th – N.S.W. Parliament granted annuity to Rev. Dr. Lang. Free selection of 20 acres extended for all Victoria.
• 6th – Eighty sheep killed by eating poisonous plants on Eastern Plains, S.A.
• 7th – Drawing of Prizes of Victorian Art Union. Cattle poisoned by eating poisonous herbs at Broad Meadows, V.
• 8th – Mr. W. G. Cuthbertson appointed Inspector of the Bank of S.A.
• 9th – Annual meeting of Congregational Union, S.A. Bendigo miners’ races, V. Geelong regatta, V.
• 10th – Tenders accepted for South-Eastern Railway by S.A. Government.
• 11th – Good Friday, close holiday. Volunteer encampment at Cheltenham. V. Grand sacred concert at Melbourne Town Hal. Death of Hon. Robert at Sydney.
• 12th – First regatta of Victoria Yacht Club. Copper discovered at Bundaleer, S.A.
• 14th – Easter Monday, observed as a general holiday. Kilmore annual races, V. Randwick autumn race meeting, N.S.W. St. Leger Stakes ; won by Commodore.
• 15th – Telegraph station opened at Cape Jervis, Sentence of fifteen years’ penal servitude pronounced on Mount and Morris, V. Funeral of Hon R. Towns ; largely attended.
• 16th – French steamship “L’Orne” anchored in Hobson’s Bay, with 500 political prisoners, on the way to New Caledonia. Large fire at Beath’s store. Christchurch; damages, £5,000, N.Z.
• 20th – The Governor.becomes patron of Melbourne Athenaeum.
• 21st – Hon. XV. B. Dailey, M.L.C., elected member of Sydney University Senate, N.S.W. Seventeenth Anniversary of the Eight Hours’ Movement in Melbourne.
• 22nd – S.S. “Northumberland” arrived in Hobson’s Bay from Plymouth, in 53 days, A . Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition opened by Sir Hercules Robinson.
• 24th – Slight shock of earthquake. “Garibaldi.” Italian war frigate, with Duke of Genoa on board as officer, arrived in Hobsons Bay. Sudden death of Mrs. Falls, of the Maitland Mercury, N.5.W.
• 25th – N.S.W. Parliament prorogued. Royal assent given to Border Duties Bill.
• 27th – Fire at Stanley-street, Collingwood, V. Picnic at Brighton to the boys from reformatories.
• 28th – Bazaar in Melbourne Town Hall in aid of the Hospital for Sick Children; proceeds, £2,048. The yacht “Secret” wrecked off Mordialloc, V. The remains of the late W. C. Wentworth arrived from England, N.S.W
• 29th – At a Government sale, land at Essendon realised £BB per acre, V.
• 30th – Governor Du Cane, of Tasmania, visited N.S.W. The Theatre Royal Proprietory declared a dividend of £8 per cent.

MAY 1873

• 1st – Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Ovens and Murray Agricultural Society, V.
• 2nd – Marquis of Normanby, Gov. of Q., met with an accident whilst on a visit to Gympie. Colonel Champ, M.L.A. for East Bourke Borough, resigns his seat, V. Mr. Spensley, M.L.A. for Portland, also resigned. P and O steamer “Baroda” quarantined, having had smallpox on board. News received of the safety of the barque “ Springbok.
• 6th – The remains of the late W C Wentworth interred at Vaucluse, Sydney; Sir James Martin delivered a funeral oration.
• 7th – Duke of Genoa entertained at a dinner at the Melbourne Club. Mr. Dorrington resigned his seat in S.A. Assembly.
• 8th – Alfred Smith’s design for new Law Courts, Melbourne, accepted.
• 9th – A survivor of the “Ketch Poli,’’ sunk near Long Reef, picked up outside Sydney Heads.
• 10th – Ten-mile pedestrian match between Bird and Sanson, won by latter.
• 11th – Geelong Gas Company reduced their price from 15s. to 12s. 6d. per 1,000 feet, V. Mr. Patterson paid a bonus of £500 by the S.A. Government for his exertions connected with the overland telegraph. Ex-Consul Caine, late of Hankow, arrested in Sydney for embezzlement.
• 13th – Third Session of the Seventh V Parliament opened by Governor Sir Geo. Bowen. Mr. Brown, of the Gulgong Guardian, sentenced to imprisonment for libel, N.S.W.
• 16th – Mr. Sam Ramsden entertained by the master bakers on his leaving the colony on a visit to the old country.
• 17th – Foundation stone of new Oddfellows’ Hall, Collingwood, laid by Thos. Peters, G.M. of Victoria. Land in Collins Street East sold at £454 per foot frontage, and in r nnders Lane,£207 frontage, Melbourne.
• 18th – £2,500 subscribed to test Mr. Harrison’s method of freezing meat. S.A. Government buildings lighted by gas at a cost of 6s. sd. per 1,000 feet. Vegetable caoutchouc discovered in S.A.
• 20th – New Postal Act introduced into the Assembly, V.
• 21st – John Mackenzie, N.S.W appointed to examine and report upon V. coal-fields.
• 26th – Parliamentary dinner held, V.
• 27th – Grand review of the United Fire Brigades of Victoria; Governor present Sydney corporation proposed laying down street tramways.
• 28th – Mr. Casey’s Eight Hours Bill read a second time. Bread at Port Darwin 9d, the 2lb. loaf. Sir James and Lady Fergusson arrived in Melbourne from England enroute for N.Z. Messrs. Y. F. Mackenzie established mustard factory from seed grown in the colony, S.A. Border Treaty with N.S.W. in operation. Baron Mueller appointed Government Botanist, V.

JUNE 1873

• 2nd – A grand demonstration at Albury, N.S.W., on the occasion of abolition of border duties. Schooner “ Defiance,” of Sydney, lost. 90 horses entered for Melbourne Cup.
• 3rd – Postal Act Amendment Bill passed the Legislative Assembly.
• 4th – Mr. Casey’s Eight Hours Bill passed, V.
• 5th – International boat race dinner held in Town Hall, Melbourne. Funeral of Mr. Muskett, well-known bookseller of Melbourne.
• 6th – Mr. Johnson, pyrotechnist, Melbourne, invented a rocket for night signalling at sea. Heavy floods at Cooma, N.S.W. Resignation of Captain Douglas, Government Resident of Port Darwin. Bowman Bros., Adelaide, purchased Sir P. Malcolm s estate, near Lake Albert, for £175,000.
• 9th – Arrived from Natal, the barque “Burton Slather,” with the new Governor, Mr. Anthony Musgrave, on board, SA. Mr Garnet elected secretary of Melbourne Athenseum out of 115 applicants.
• 10th – Hill End coach upset near Peel, N.S.W.; driver killed and two passengers injured.
• 11th – Schooner “ Kathleen ” capsized off Port Emery, N.S.W.; four men drowned. Coal mine opened at Spring Bay. Great excitement at Stawell, owing to a Ballarat party endeavouring to claim, or “jump” auriferous ground held by a local Gold found at Cole creek, near Ararat, V. Very high floods in the northern district, N.S.W.
• 12th – Trial of Degraves v. MacMullen finished; verdict for plaintiff, £10,224.
• 13th – Extensive robbery at Crisps, jeweller, Melbourne.
• 14th – Dismissal of Mr Moody from NSW railway service.
• 16th – £700 raised in Sydney for the Widow of Captain Longmuir. Felix Kabat sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.
• 17th – T Parliament opened by the Govenor. A body of police sent to Stawell to prevent disturbances respecting posession of claims, V.
• 18th – Q Paliament passed resolutions in fabour of a cable from Sydney to NZ and from Norman Mouth to Singapore. NSW Bank, Gympie, robbed of £900.
• 19th – Large fire at Mr. King’s draper, Ballarat: damage £2000. Goodwin of Colonial Bank convicted of embezzling £10,000: sentenced to 7 years hard labour.
• 20th – Great floods at Brisbane, Q. Model lodging house erected in King Street, Melbourne.
• 22nd – Mr Boothby elected for district of Victoria, SA. Pontoon bridge over the Murray at Echuca, V, sunk,
• 23rd – Annual boat race between Wesleyan and Scotch Colleges won by the latter.
• 24th – Miner’s Advocate office at Newcastle birned, NSW. Mininster of Public Instruction, V, prohibits corporal punishment for females in State schools.
• 25th – Postal Amendment Bill received Royal assent. Government propose expending £5,000 on a National Gallery. £1700 subscribed at Sydney for exterior of the Cathedral.
• 26th – Great floods in Q: eight persons drowned near Warra Warra, Darling Downs. Mr Y Thomas’ tender accepted for second section of Ballarat and Maryborough railway at £3934 per mile. Legislative Assembly, V, rejected Mr McBain’s motion of censure regarding new P and O contract.
• 29th – Milly’s soap factory at Glebe, Sydney, burned.
• 30th – Sandhurst Water works bought by the V Government for £106,208, V.

JULY 1873

• 1st – Annual meeting on the Old Colonists Association, held at Menzies Hotel.
• 2nd – Attempts to form an oyster bed in Corio Bay, V, proving successful. Caruss, the murdered of Captain Longmuir executed in Sydney.
• 4th – Ninety-seventh anniversary of declaration of indepence of the United States celebrateed in Melbourne by the citizens of the Republic. Gunpowder explosion at Sandhurst, V.
• 6th – Powell wing on Wesley College, Melbourne, completed. Foundation stone of Roman Catholic Church at Footscray, V, laid by Right Rev Bishop Goold. Mercantile Marine Insurance Company, SA, declared a dividend of 10 per cent.
• 8th – Treasurer of Victoria proposes to give £120,000 to charities for the year and to spend £328,375 on public works. A ball in aid of the Masonic Almshouses in the Town Hall, Melbourne.
• 9th – Queensland Government decided to make Brisbane the terminus of Torres Strait Postal service. Hon John Hay appointed President of the Council, NSW. Walsh, Minister of Public Works, resigned, Q.
• 14th – Victoria Woollen and Cloth Maunfacturing Company, Geelong, declared a dividend of 10 per cent. Glenelg Railway opened SA. Pilot Schooner, “Rip” wrecked outside Port Phillip Heads, V: 4 lives lost.
• 16th – Queensland Parliament dissolved by the Govenor. South Australian farmers agistated for a resumption of assisted immigration.
• 17th – Rails laid to within a mile of Benalla, V. Police agitating for an increase of pay, Melbourne. Williams contract for extension of southern railway to Yass, £3,590 per mile.
• 18th – Mr Harrison received letters patent for improvements in apparatus for manufacture of ice. Employees of the Age presented Mr Harrison with a silver inkstand on retirment from editorship.
• 19th – Valuable tin mine discovered near Cooma, NSW. Mr Reynolds, Commissioner of Crown Lands, resigned, SA.
• 21st – Shock of earthquake at Peake, SA. Sydney corporation debt amounts to £792,000.
• 22nd – Land at Warrnambool sold by auction £133 per acre, upset price £30. Commercial Bank of Sydney declared a dividend 20 per cent.
• 23rd – Ararat hounds purchased by Villiers Hunt Club at Warrnambool, V.
• 25th – SA Parliament opened by the Govenor, Hon A Milne elected President. Rev C A Reynolds appointed Roman Catholic Bishop , in room of the late Bishop Shiel, SA.
• 28th – Sir George Bowen’s commission arrived by the mail.

AUGUST 1873

• 1st – Launceston Gas Company declared 7 per cent dividend, T.
• 3rd – Ministerial picnic to officers of the French ironclad “Atalante” at the Zigzag. Sydney. Nearly £4,000 collected for the sufferers of the “Rip” pilot boat, V.
• 4th – Horticultural Improvements Society’s new hall opened by a banquet. The whaler “Robert Towns ” lost at St. Bartholomew’s Island.
• 5th – Bank of Victoria declared a dividend of 10 per cent. Important, discovery of fossel remains in Gowrie Creek, Darling Downs, Q.
• 6th – Cutter “Secret” wrecked near Port Lincoln, S.A. High Mass to celebrate 25th anniversary of the consecration of Dr. Goold, Roman Catholic Bishop of Melbourne. Yield of gold in NSW for the year shows a decrease of 15,000 ozs.
• 7th – Manufacture of oil-cloth established in Melbourne, V. Schooner “Mary”, coal-laden from Newcastle, sank, all hands lost.
• 8th – Annual conversazione of Royal Society of Victoria. Mr. Dowme appointed Judge of the Northern Territory, SA.
• 9th – English Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank opened a branch at Palmerston, Port Darwin. Intelligence received of the wreck of the “Rangitoto” in Cooks Straits. Sydney Government Printing Office picnic.
• 11th – First of the monthly soirees for the Melbourne Athenneum. N.Z. Government accepted Messrs MacMeckan and Co’s offer of performance of a mail contract between Melbourne and N.Z for an annual subs of £5,000.
• 12th – Sydney Fund for Prince Alfred Hospital, £25,000.
• 13th – A Foundling Hospital and Mothers’ Home to be erected in Sydney.
• 14th – Fire at V. Cloth Manufactory. S. Geelong damages £2,000. Steamer “Crayforth” arrived bringing first cargo of new season’s tea, V.
• 16th – Brown’s fellmongery establishment destroyed by fire, V.
• 18th – Funeral of Mr. Sands, Sydney. Arrival in Hobson’s Bay of the “Dallam Tower,” dismasted, and injured by storm. Compulsory Education Bill brought before S.A. Parliament.
• 20th – David L. Lansdale, solicitor, lost in the bush, T. A movement on foot for bringing the terminus of the N.S.W. Railway into the city.
• 23rd – Schooner “Challenge ” condemned for a breach of the Kidnapping Act, by Sydney Government.
• 25th – The body of Captain Archer, of the “Douglas,” found in Corio Bay. McKenzie s reports on the coal resources of V very unfavourable.
• 27th – Mayor O’Grady’s fancy dress ball, held in the Town Hall, Melbourne, 1,500 attended. Splendid nugget of 175 ozs., found in the Eldorado Claim, Smythesdale, V.
• 29th – Proposed system of free education in S.A., will cost £90,000 a year. G. B. Scott, magistrate of Robe S.A appointed Government Resident at the Northern Territory.

SEPTEMBER 1873

• 1st – Death of A. H. Tulk, Librarian of Melbourne Library.
• 4th – Body of R W Wardill found in the Yarra River. Fire in the Chinese quarter, Little Bourke Street, Melbourne; much property destroyed. A new Freemason’s Lodge in course of erection at Sandhurst. Large fire at Newcastle, Cleary’s Drapery Store burned, damages £6,000, N.S.W.
• 6th – Large fire at Auckland, N.Z. Alfred Dock at Williamstown completed, V.
• 7th – HMS “Pearl,” in command of Commodore Goodenough arrived at Freemantle, W.A.
• 8th – Return fancy dress ball to Mayor O’Grady held in the Town Hall, Melbourne. Stanilaus College, Sydney opened. NSW Captain Rouse, of the S.S. “Claud Hamilton” drowned.
• 10th – Sir Alfred Stephen on his farewell circuit, after 34 years judgeship, NSW.
• 12th – Release of Mount and Morris, the kidnappers.
• 13th – New Education Bill, SA carried. Rich and extensive gold diggings found on Endeavour River, Q.
• 16th – Shock of earthquake at Berwick, V.
• 17th – The Lighthouse on (Glenelg Jetty, S.A) burned. Stawell jumping cases settled by a compromise, V. William Bamford, Melbourne hangman, died. Captain Booth, of the brig “Jason” released, Q.
• 22nd – Kilmore Races held.
• 24th – SS “Somersetshire ” arrived from England in 57 days, V. Portions of land in Melbourne realised £220 per foot frontage at auction sale, V.
• 28th – Collections on Hospital Sunday in and around Melbourne, £4,000.

OCTOBER 1873

• 1st – The new Metropolitan Lunatic Asylum opened at Kew, V.
• 3rd – Valuable stone-flagging discovered at Malmsbury.
• 6th – Extensive forgeries of bank notes discovered in Parramatta Gaol.

NOVEMBER 1873

• Nov 2nd – Consecration of Right Rev. Dr. Reynolds, R.C. Bishop of Adelaide.
• Nov 6th – Melbourne Cup won by Don Juan, 70,000 persons present, largest assemblage hither to seen on Australian course.
• Nov 10th – Sir James Martin accepted Chief-Justiceship of N. S. Wales.
• Nov 12th – Intercolonial rifle match at Melbourne, between Victoria, N. S. Wales, and N. Zealand, N. S. Wales the conqueror.
• Nov 13th – Second Reading Transcontinental Railway Bill moved in S. Australian Assembly.
• Nov 19th – N. E. railway from Melbourne opened to Wodonga, 187 miles.
• Nov 26th – Nelson Exhibition opened, N. Zealand.

DECEMBER 1873

• Dec 3rd – Fijian Banking Company opened Bank at Levuka.
• Dec 9th – Riot at Clunes Diggings, Victoria.
• Dec 11th – Wreck of ship “Iron King ’’off Trowbridge Island, S. Australia.
• Dec 12th – “Sunfoo,” Pioneer mail steamer of Torres’ Straits route, arrived off Cape Moreton.
• Dec 13th – Colonel Warburton reached the Oak – over from Alice Springs.
• Dec 16th – Mr. G. W. Allen appointed Minister of Justice and Education, N. S. Wales.—Archbishop Vaughan, R.C., arrived, Sydney, 20,000 present.
• Dec 20th – S. S. Macgregor, first of A. and A. line, left Sydney for San Francisco.
• Dec 29th – Match A. E. Eleven v. 18 Victoria terminated, Melbourne ; the 18 victorious.
• Dec 31st – Emigrant ship Surat wrecked off coast of Otago, N. Z., no lives lost. —Matric. and Civ. Serv. Examinations Melbourne Town Hall, 390 candidates.