1847 Chinese labourers arrive in Adelaide
Labour shortages were an issue in mid-19th century Australia, particularly in rural areas. Importing Chinese workers was much discussed as…
1840s
1846 First meat canning in Australia
The first Australian meat canning works were opened in Sydney by Sizar Elliot. Others soon followed and canned meat became…
1844 Penfolds wine company established
The company responsible for Australia’s most famous wine, Penfolds Grange, was established at Magill Estate in the Adelaide Hills in…
1843 Ridley stripper harvester
John Ridley migrated from England to South Australia in 1840. He became a miller and wheat farmer and in 1843 developed…
1842 Barossa Valley first settled
The first German Lutheran settlers arrived in the Barossa Valley in 1842, settling at Bethany. German language, culture and cuisine…
1840 Earliest mention of Golden Syrup
Although there are claims that golden syrup was invented by the British company Abram Lyle & Sons in 1885, in…
1840s Sydney’s Flying Pieman
William Francis King, dubbed the “Flying Pieman”, progressed from barman at Sydney’s Hope & Anchor to making and selling meat…
1840s South Australian wine industry develops
Many of the well-known names in the South Australian wine industry established their first vineyards in the late 1930s and…