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| 1859, Dec. 10 |
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| QUEENSLAND was established as a separate colony, following agitation against government from Sydney. Brisbane became the capital. | 1 |
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| 1860–1 |
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| Robert O. Burke and William J. Wills headed a lavishly financed and well-equipped expedition across the desert from Melbourne, using camels for the first time in Australia. The expedition first succeeded in crossing Australia from south to north (Gregory River on the Gulf of Carpentaria), but the leaders lost their lives on the return journey. | 2 |
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| 1861, July |
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| Anti-Chinese riots on the Lambing Flat goldfields, New South Wales. | 3 |
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| Oct. 18 |
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| In New South Wales the land selection acts limited the tenure of leases and permitted selection of small holdings for purchase. The measures were intended to help the small farmer (selector), but gave rise to much abuse (selecting of the best part of a large sheep run and “dummying”—purchase by selectors who were mere agents of the large holders). Greater efforts were made in most colonies to restrict and break up the large holdings (resumption of Crown lands on expiration of leases, compulsory resale) culminating (1910) in a heavy tax on unimproved estates of over £5,000 in value. These measures were only partly successful. | 4 |
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| Nov. 7 |
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| The Melbourne Cup, Australia's premier horse race, was first run. | 5 |
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