Geelong Timeline 1802 - 1910

1802   Lieut. John Murray arrives on the Lady Nelson.
           Matthew Flinders climbs You Yangs and sees Corio Bay.
1803   Surveyor General Charles Grimes maps the bay area. 
           Lieutenant Huckley on the Calcutta explores Corio Bay. 
           William Buckley escapes from the Sorrento Penal Colony.
1835   John Batman explores from Pt Henry around Corio Bay. 
           He purchases 500,000 acres from the Aborigines   
           including Geelong. 
           John Helder Wedge, using William Buckley as guide, 
           discovers Barwon River, Moorabool River and names 
           Buckley Falls.
1836   Cowie and Stead land the first sheep in the district.
1837   Captain Foster Fyans appointed Geelong's first 
           Police Magistrate.
1838   Geelong is officially a town 
           The first shipment of wool is sent overseas.
1840   Geelong Advertiser begins publication.
1843   Christ Church in Moorabool Street, the oldest Anglican 
           Church in constant use, started.
1844   G. Lloyd opened a factory in Breakwater to boil down  
           animal fat for tallow to make candles.
1845   First flour mill created by William Henry Collins on the  
           banks of the Barwon at Fyansford.
1850   Geelong adopts its motto and coat of arms 
           'by the right use of God's gifts' 
           Gold is discovered at Ballarat. 
           The first public wool auction is held by Dennys Lascelles
           auctioneers
1851   Michael Donaghy opens a business on the Barwon 
           River at Balyang Sanctury to procure rope.
1853   Population is 22,000
1854   Geelong's first post office.
1857   Geelong-Melbourne Railway opened by Sir Henry 
           Barky. 
           First country rail in Victoria.
1860   First football match between Geelong and Melbourne
           lasts three hours and is a scoreless draw. 
           Geelong football secretary Charles Brownlow gives his 
           name to the Brownlow Medal.  
           Cobb & Co builds the largest coach, called the Leviathan,
           which travels from Geelong to Ballarat carrying sixty 
           passengers while being pulled by eight horses.
1861   Geelong is illuminated by gaslight.
1862   Geelong to Ballarat rail.
1868   First woollen cloth produced in Australia by the 
           Victorian Woollen and Cloth Manufacturing Company.
1869   The Clipper ship Lightning catches fire at Yarra Street 
           Pier.
1872   Johnstone Park is opened. 
           National Wool Museum built.
1873   Geelong football players adopt the blue and white  
           stripes.
1880   The Hopetoun Channel dug.
           Steam Packet Ship completes the first of its regular bay 
           trips between Geelong and Melbourne.
1886   Thirty three telephone subscribers.
1901   Electricity in Geelong
1908   Geelong's first car constructed by Humble and Sons.
1910   Geelong is declared a city
1912   Trams roll for 44 years.
1925   Ford Motor Company's first T model Ford rolls off  
           the assembly line. 
           Geelong wins its first football premiership.