| 1839 John Pascoe Fawkner’s newspaper, The Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser, is published for the first time. |
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| 1839 Charles Joseph La Trobe arrives in Sydney, en route from London, and spends six weeks there with Governor Gipps learning to be an Administrator. |
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| 1840 Port Phillip District’s first permanent navigational light, fuelled by whale oil, is ready to commence operation at Point Gellibrand (Williamstown). |
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| 1843 Post offices open at Kyneton and Port Fairy |
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1844 Post offices open at The Grange (later Hamilton) and Seymour. |
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| 1845 Melbourne’s first fire brigade, the Melbourne Fire Prevention Society, is established and soon afterwards Chief Constable William Sugden is appointed as superintendent. |
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| 1846 Sectarian riots break out in Melbourne between Protestant Orange and Catholic factions |
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| 1851 Port Phillip District of New South Wales becomes the Colony of Victoria. |
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1851 A shepherd finds gold near Ballarat and within days gold discoveries are made throughout Victoria. |
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| 1854 The foundation stones of the Melbourne Public Library (now State Library Victoria) and the University of Melbourne are laid. |
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