Governor King of the British settlement at New South Wales became increasingly nervous about the intentions of French explorers in the region. In March 1803 he commissioned Lt John Bowen to form a settlement at the River Derwent to ward off French interests, to establish another base for convicts and to exploit the island’s timber getting, agricultural and sealing resources. Lt David Collins took charge of the settlement at Risdon but found the site unsuitable. He removed the settlement to the Sullivan's Cove site in 1804. Also in 1804, a further settlement (Port Dalrymple) was commenced on the north of the island, under the command of Lt Col William Paterson.
The fledgling settlement at Sullivan's Cove was plagued by food shortages, convict unrest and internal conflicts. The food supply became so desperately low in 1806, that Lt David Collins had six whalers from the Ferret flogged for refusing to hand over two casks of biscuits and three casks of flour for the relief of the settlement.
By 1853, however, as Tasmanians were celebrating the end of convict transportation to the colony, the population had reached over 70,000, whaling and wool exports had become the mainstay of the colony, and ship-building was also showing great potential. Over 127,000 acres were under cultivation. Tasmania had been made a separate colony in 1825, and in 1856 was granted responsible self-government.
The expansion of settlement, however, had caused the Aboriginal population to suffer both dispossession and depopulation. Prolonged conflict with settlers and sealers over resources, the abduction of Aboriginal women, and exposure to disease whilst held in captivity severely reduced their numbers. In the 1830s the remnants of the Aboriginal population living in the bush were removed to Wybalenna, Flinders Island where they were housed in ‘gaol-like’ conditions. Children were routinely removed to the Orphan School, Hobart. In 1847 Wybalenna was abandoned and the 47 Aborigines left there were transferred to Oyster Cove Aboriginal Station, south of Hobart.
1803
September 8 and 11
Lady Nelson and Albion arrive at Risdon Cove on the River Derwent, to establish the first European settlement on the island under the command of Lt John Bowen.
1804
May 3
An attack on Aborigines at Risdon Cove occurs. Eye-witness accounts of the massacre vary greatly with estimates of the dead ranging from three or four to fifty.
May 8
Lt David Collins takes charge of the Risdon settlement, and subsequently removes it to Sullivan’s Cove site.
June 15
Hobart Town adopted as name for new settlement.
November 5
A party under the charge of Lt Col William Paterson arrives in the Buffalo, Lady Nelson and 2 schooners at Outer Cove (George Town) under instruction from Governor King to begin a settlement on the north of the island.
November 12
An Aborigine killed, another wounded at Paterson’s Camp.
1805
William Collins establishes a whaling station at Droughty Point on the Derwent.
June 24
Lt David Collins informs Governor King of an extreme shortage of food at settlement.
1806
March
Paterson moves northern settlement to present site of Launceston.
1807
February 3
Thomas Laycock and party embarks on first overland expedition from Port Dalrymple (in north) to Hobart (in south).
November 29
First settlers from Norfolk Island arrive.
1808
September 29
The name ‘Launceston’ is first used to refer to the northern settlement in official correspondence.
1809
March 30
Deposed Governor of NSW, William Bligh, arrives at Hobart Town and temporarily disrupts Lt. David Collins’ power of authority over the settlement.
1810
January 8
The first newspaper The Derwent Star and Van Diemens Land Intelligencer is printed in colony.
1811
November 22
Governor Lachlan Macquarie (NSW) arrives and begins tour of inspection of island. He names Elizabeth Town (New Norfolk), lays a geometrical plan for Hobart streets and issues instructions for the building of barracks, hospital, gaol, signal station and a new Government House there.
1812
June 30
Northern settlements made subordinate to Hobart.
October 19
Indefatigable, the first direct convict transport from Britain arrives.
1813
April 3
Ports of Van Diemen’s Land open to commerce.
1814
First horse races held at New Town.
May 14
First issue of Van Diemens Land Gazette and General Advertiser.
June 1
Lt Governor’s Court established to deal with personal disputes under the value of 50 pounds.
1815
May
Lt Gov Davey declares Martial law against bushrangers.
December 12
Capt. James Kelly sets out on circumnavigation of island, during which important observations are made on the resources of the west coast.
1816
June 1
Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter begins regular publication.
1817
February 19
Foundation stone of old St David’s Church, Hobart laid.
May
A regular weekly mail service established between Hobart and Launceston.
May 3
Hobart Town gaol nearly completed.
1818
A government flour mill installed at Hobart Town Rivulet.
1819
Reverend John Youl (Assistant Chaplain to Port Dalrymple), arrives in colony.
May 22
Northern settlement headquarters moved to George Town.
June 25
Hobart-New Norfolk road completed.
1820
February 21
J. T. Bigge, undertaking a British inquiry into colonial administration, arrives in Van Diemen’s Land.
March
Merino sheep introduced from Macarthur stud, NSW.
October 29
First Methodist meeting held in colony.
1821
April 14
Rev. Phillip Conolly, first Roman Catholic clergyman, arrives.
May 30
Governor Macquarie, on his second tour of the island, selects a site for township of Perth, and later Campbell Town, Ross, Oatlands and Brighton.
November 12
A party of officials and convicts depart Port Dalrymple to form a penal settlement at Macquarie Harbour.
1822
January 1
First meeting of an agricultural society held, Hobart.
1823
February 3
The first official ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Australia begins in Hobart under Rev. Archibald McArthur.
August 11
Bank of Van Diemen’s Land established.
1824
Northern settlement headquarters returned to Launceston site.
May 10
Opening of Supreme Court in Tasmania.
December
Aborigines Musquito (from NSW) and Black-Jack sentenced to hang for a resistance campaign against pastoralists which began at Grindstone Bay in November 1823.
December 28
Foundation stone of St. John’s Church laid, Launceston.
1825
January 1
Richmond Bridge opened.
January 5
The Tasmanian and Port Dalrymple Advertiser becomes first northern newspaper.
February 27
Party of soldiers and convicts leave Hobart to establish a penal settlement on Maria Island.
December 3
Van Diemen’s Land proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales, with its own judicial establishment and Legislative Council.
1826
April
Tasmanian Turf Club first established.
April 12
Legislative Council meets formally for first time.
October 27
Van Diemen’s Land Company settlers and stock arrive at Circular Head to begin pastoral and agricultural settlement of the north-west region.
1827
Van Diemen’s Land Company begins settlement at Emu Bay (now Burnie).
January
Van Diemen’s Land Mechanic’s Institute founded, becoming the first of its type in Australia.
January 3
First boat regatta held on River Derwent.
1828
Reduction of English duty on whale oil opens way for expansion of local whaling industry.
January
Van Diemen’s Land Company shepherds massacre 30 Aborigines at Cape Grim.
January 25
Derwent Bank opens for business.
November 1
Martial law proclaimed against Aborigines in settled areas.
1829
Women’s convict gaol or ‘female factory’ at Cascades, Hobart opened.
May 14
Aboriginal mission on Bruny Island opened by George Augustus Robinson.
1830
Bridgewater convict chain gang commences work on the causeway across the River Derwent.
January 27
G. A. Robinson sets off on the first of six ‘conciliatory’ expeditions to inquire into the state of the Aboriginal population.
September 20
Port Arthur penal settlement established.
October 7
The ‘Black Line’ against Aborigines begins in an attempt to capture them all. The campaign lasts 7 weeks and only succeeds in bringing two Aborigines to the authorities.
1831
Publication of Australia’s first novel Quintus Servinton by Henry Savery, Hobart.
System of disposing of land by free grants abolished.
Foundation stone of New Town Orphan School laid.
1832
Erection of Cascade Brewery, Hobart commences.
January
Martial law against Aborigines revoked.
September
Maria Island penal settlement closed.
October
Wybalenna chosen as site for an Aboriginal Establishment, Flinders Island.
November 11
Derwent Light (‘Iron Pot’) first lit.
1833
October
Cornwall Agricultural Society, Launceston formed.
November
Macquarie Harbour penal station closed and convicts transferred to Port Arthur.
December 17
First professional theatrical performance takes place in Hobart.
December 19
Low Head lighthouse first lit.
1834
Convict ‘female factory’, Launceston completed.
February 8
Point Puer boys convict establishment opened.
June 5
First shipment of coal leaves the convict mines, Tasman Peninsula.
November 4
Foundation stone of Theatre Royal, Hobart, laid.
November 5
Trial by jury in all civil cases adopted.
November 19
Edward Henty and party, of Launceston, occupy land at Portland Bay, marking the beginnings of white settlement in Victoria.
1835
Colonial artist, John Glover, sends 35 paintings of Van Diemen’s Land to an exhibition in London.
January 22
First meeting held to establish a Launceston Savings Bank.
April 12
Convict transport George III sinks in D’Entrecasteaux Channel claiming lives of 139 male convicts.
May 12
John Batman of Launceston sails to Port Phillip as agent for the Port Phillip Association.
1836
February 5
Charles Darwin visits Van Diemen’s Land in the Beagle.
July 1
Formal list of counties, hundreds and parishes of Van Diemen’s Land gazetted.
1837
British Government begins Molesworth Committee Inquiry into Transportation.
November 27
State aid granted for construction of church buildings (all denominations).
1838
March 31
Bruny Island lighthouse completed.
August 7
Government printery established by Act of Parliament.
September
Midland Agricultural Association forms.
December 1
First annual Hobart Regatta held.
1839
A registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages appointed.
January
First regatta held on Tamar River.
1840
Economic depression begins.
August
Capt. Ross arrives with Antarctic expedition of the Erebus and Terror.
Rossbank meteorological observatory site established near Government House.
November 18
End of transportation to NSW leads to convict influx to Van Diemen’s Land.
1841
Probation system of convict management introduced, leading to the establishment of over 70 government work gang stations throughout the island.
1842
January 1
First official census of Van Diemen’s Land.
March
Sir John and Lady Jane Franklin undertake an overland journey to Macquarie Harbour.
March 12
Launceston Examiner first published.
August 21
Hobart Town proclaimed a city.
1843
August 20
Rev. Francis Russell Nixon, first Bishop of Tasmania (Church of England), arrives in Hobart.
1844
May 11
First Catholic Bishop, Rev. Robert William Willson arrives in Hobart.
September 12
Royal Society of Tasmania formed, being the first branch of the Society established outside Britain.
September 29
Norfolk Island annexed to Van Diemen’s Land.
1845
Royal Victoria Theatre, Launceston opens.
March 1
Hobart Savings Bank established.
July 4
Hobart Synagogue dedicated.
August 4
Emigrant ship, Cataraqui, wrecked off King Island and 406 lives lost.
October 31
Legislative Council left without a quorum as the ‘Patriotic Six’ resign over what they considered unconstitutional means taken by the Governor to impose added duties on various goods.
1846
Swan Island and Goose Island lighthouses commence operations.
February
Aborigines at Flinders Island send a petition to Queen Victoria, being the first petition to a reigning monarch from an Aboriginal group in Australia.
1847
March 23
‘Patriotic Six’ reinstated to Legislative Council by new Lt. Governor Sir William Denison.
October 18
Forty-seven Flinders Island Aborigines removed to Oyster Cove station.
1848
Deal Island Lighthouse erected.
1849
January 26
An anti-transportation league formed after public meeting at Launceston.
August 1
Tasmanian Public Library officially opened.
October
Irish political prisoners, including William Smith O’Brien, arrive in Van Diemen’s Land.
1850
August 5
A British Act of Parliament allows the introduction of a partly elected Legislative Council in Van Diemen’s Land.
1851
Discovery of gold in Victoria prompts large scale emigration from Tasmania.
February 11
First inter-colonial cricket match held, Launceston (Tasmania vs Victoria).
October 21
First ever polling day for Tasmanian members of Parliament.
December 3
First meeting of the newly formed and partly elected Legislative Council.
1852
Hobart City Mission established.
February
Payable gold first discovered at Fingal.
1853
January 2
Elections held for first municipal councils in Hobart and Launceston.
May 26
The last convict transport St Vincent docks at Hobart.
August 10
Jubilee Festival held in Hobart to mark the cessation of convict transportation to the colony.
1854
Regular Launceston-Emu Bay-Circular Head steamer begins.
April 25
Select Committee appointed to draft constitution for Bicameral Parliament.
July 5
First issue of the Mercury newspaper appears.
1855
Norfolk Island evacuated, convicts having been transferred to Port Arthur.
First regional hospital established at Campbell Town.
October 24
Constitution Act proclaimed establishing Responsible Government in Tasmania.
1856
January 1
Official change of name from Van Diemen’s Land to Tasmania takes effect.
June 24
An Order in Council issued by Queen Victoria separates Norfolk Island from Tasmania and makes it 'a distinct and separate settlement', the affairs of which are to be administered by the Governor of New South Wales.
October 17
First elections held to establish new Parliament under Responsible Government.
November 1
W.T.N. Champ becomes Tasmania’s first Premier, and first ministry takes office.
December 2
First session of new Bicameral Parliament.
1857
Launceston’s water supply scheme from St Patrick’s River completed.
Hobart and Launceston Marine Boards established.
August 10
Telegraph line opens between Hobart and Launceston.
December 22
Hobart is incorporated.
1858
Municipal police forces established in Hobart and Launceston.
February 1
Voting by secret ballot adopted.
October 29
Launceston becomes incorporated.
1859
Hobart Town Council appoints a health officer due to concerns about public health.
First attempt made to lay a submarine telegraph cable across Bass Strait.
January 2
Governor Henry Fox Young moves into new Government House, Hobart.
December
Charles Gould undertakes a geological expedition to the Western Ranges.
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