Tasmanian History Timeline 1850-1859

The following are a list of important dates in Tasmanian history dating from the decade of Joseph Wheeler Feltham's arrival in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land.

• 1850 – First Van Diemen's Land secular high school built at the Domain in Hobart Town.
• 1850 – Hobart Town’s Constitution Dock is officially opened.
• 1851 – The Black Thursday bushfires occur in February 1851.
• 1851 – A major influenza epidemic hits Van Diemen's Land.
• 1851 – First election for 16 non-appointed members of Legislative Council.
• 1851 – Hobart Town’s Chamber of Commerce is established in 1851.
• 1851 – The first Australian inter-colonial cricket match is hosted in Launceston between Van Diemen's Land and Victoria.
• 1851 – Van Diemen's Land Darlington penitentiary abandoned on Maria Island.
• 1852 – Elections for first Hobart and Launceston municipal councils are held.
• 1852 – Gold discovered near Fingal
• 1852 – The convict ship the 'Equestrian' arrives in Hobart Town.
• 1853 – Arrival of last convict ship, the St Vincent.
  
• 1853 – Jubilee festival in Hobart celebrates the end of convict transportation.
• 1853 – The first Tasmanian adhesive postage stamp issued.
• 1854 – The Legislative Council wrote to Queen Victoria requesting that the name of the colony be changed to Tasmania.
  
• 1854 – Severe floods and fires hit Hobart.
• 1854 – The Mercury newspaper is founded as bi-weekly publication.
• 1855 – The first horse-drawn 'buses' (in reality they were large carts) began services - mainly on the Hobart city to nearby New Town route.
• 1855 – Henry Young becomes first vice-regal representative to have title of Governor of Van Dieman's Land - later Tasmania.
• 1856 – Name of Van Diemen's Land officially changed to Tasmania after grant of responsible self-government.
• 1856 – New two-house Parliament opens after elections, William Champ becomes colony's first Premier.
• 1856 – Norfolk Island transferred from Tasmanian to New South Wales control.
• 1857 – Hobart's municipal Incorporation
• 1857 – Hobart-Launceston telegraph line opens for first time.
  
• 1857 – Hobart starts using coal gas - Hobart streets get gas lighting.
• 1858 – Hobarts Marine Board has it's first meeting - becoming Australia's oldest port authority.
• 1858 – Hobart and Launceston councils form municipal police forces.
• 1858 – Council of Education established in Tasmania.
  
• 1858 – The Hobart Savings Bank founded in 1858.
• 1858 – Tasmanian Parliament passes Rural Municipalities Act
• 1859 – Hobart Town Council appoints a health officer.
• 1859 – The new Government House at Domain occupied for first time, by Governor Henry Young and Lady Young.

Joseph Wheeler Feltham Lived At Ware Street, Hobart, Tasmania

Hobart Town Map 1858:

This old map shows the boundary and streets of Hobart Town in 1858 (Jarman's map). Joseph Wheeler Feltham lived in Ware Street, near the Northern boundary of the town. More of Ware Street and the Felthams in future post(s).

Important locations in and around Hobart Town (1858):
Adelaide Street, Argyle Street, Arthur Street, Augustus Street, Barrack Street, Bathurst Street, Battery Point, Brisbane Street, Burnett Street, Campbell Street, Charlotte Street, Collins Street, Colville Street, Davey Street, Elizabeth Street, Elphinstone Road, Fitzroy Crescent, Forest Road, George Street, George's Hill, Harrington Street, King's Road, Lansdowne Crescent, Liverpool Street, Macquarie Street, Melville Street, Molle Street, Montpelier Retreat, Mount Stuart Road, Murray Street, New Town Road, Park Street, Patrick Street, Proctor's Road, Queen Street, Queen's Park, Queen's Road, River Derwent, Salamanca Place, Sandy Bay, Sandy Bay Road, Sullivan's Cove, Ware Street, Warwick Street, Wellington Street