Today in History - February
February 1
On this day in 1955 the six o'clock swill was abolished in NSW. Six o'clock closing was introduced in 1916 as an attempt to get men home to their families earlier. Instead, it encouraged an hour long drinking binge between 5pm and 6pm. The Liquor Amendment Act 1954 came into effect on this day and extended the closing time for hotel bars to 10pm.
February 2
On this day in 1803 the Surveyor General, Charles Grimes, sailed up the Yarra River in present day Melbourne. On his return to Sydney on the 7 March he reported unfavourably about the future settlement at Port Phillip.
February 3
On this day in 1955 Queen Elizabeth II arrived at Farm Cove in Sydney to begin a two-month visit to Australia. She was the first British reigning monarch to visit Australia and her arrival was celebrated in Sydney in style. An estimated one million people crowded Sydney streets and foreshore to catch a glimpse of the Queen. That night a large fireworks display on Sydney Harbour cumulated in a 50 ft high fireworks portrait of the Queen and Prince Phillip.
February 4
On this day in 1814 the Second Charter of Justice came into effect, thereby creating a new court to deal with civil matters. The new Supreme Court of Civil Judicature consisted of a Judge and two magistrates and dealt with civil matters such as land, tenements and small debts. The Court possessed, in modern terms, common law, equity and probate jurisdictions.
February 5
On this day in 1803 explorer George Bass left Port Jackson in the Venus, never to be heard of again. Bass had planned to go to Tahiti to trade for pork on a government contract for NSW. His fate remains unknown.
February 6
On this day in 1794 Captain John Hunter was appointed as Captain Arthur Phillip's replacement as Governor. Phillip's was granted leave on December 10 1792 and returned to England, leaving Captain Francis Grose as Acting Governor. Hunter arrived in the Colony on September 7 1795.
February 7
On this day in 1788, the Colony of New South Wales was formally proclaimed. The official ceremony was performed by Judge-Advocate David Collins and marks the effective commencement of the British colony. Captain Arthur Phillip assumed the Office of Governor.
February 8
On this day in 1879 Ned Kelly and his gang arrived in Jerilderie, NSW to carry out a daring raid on the local bank. Kelly then burned all the townspeople's mortgage deeds. The NSW Government issued rewards totaling £4,000. The Jerilderie Letter of 1879 is named after the town.
February 10
On this day in 1788 the first marriage ceremony was conducted by the Reverend Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the First Fleet. The first couple to marry was William Parr and Mary MacCormick, both convicts. Reverend Johnson also conducted the first divine service in the Colony on February 3 1788.
February 11
On this day in 1788 the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction sat for the first time. The Court was established by the First Charter of Justice of 1787. Deputy Judge Advocate David Collins could hear criminal matters along with a panel of six naval and military officers. Civil matters, like debt cases, were heard in the Court of Civil Jurisdiction where Collins was again Judge along with two "fit an proper" residents of the Colony.
- See the Index to Criminal Court records, 1788-1833
- See more about the Supreme Court in Archives in Brief 31
February 12
On this day in 1793 John Macarthur was granted 100 acres of land at Parramatta by Acting Governor Francis Grose. Macarthur went on to become the first man to clear and cultivate 50 acres and received a further grant of 100 acres. These two grants formed the land for what became known as Elizabeth Farm, named in honour of Macarthur's wife.
- See Colonial Secretary's Papers under John Macarthur
- See Colonial Secretary's Papers under Elizabeth Macarthur
February 13
On this day in 1844 convicted murderer John Knatchbull was hanged before a big crowd at Darlinghurst Gaol. Knatchbull, a former captain in the British Navy, arrived in NSW as a convict and continued to run foul of the law. In January 1844 he murdered shopkeeper Ellen Jamieson with a tomahawk.
February 14
On this day in 1788 Lieutenant Philip Gidley King left Sydney to establish a settlement on Norfolk Island. With him were 15 convicts and seven free men. They arrived on 6 March 1788 and began to prepare the Island for more settlement and commercial development.
February 15
On this day in 1876 the current state flag for NSW was adopted when it was proclaimed in the NSW Government Gazette. The new badge was designed by Colonial Architect James Barnet and Captain Francis Hixson, a retired Royal Navy officer and is described as on a silver background, a red cross bearing a golden lion in the centre and eight pointed golden star on each arm.
February 16
On this day in 1914 Charles Gilbert Heydon, a Judge at the Industrial Court, ruled that a living wage for a family of four should be 48 shillings a week. This living wage should be governed by the degree of propserity of the age.
February 17
On this day in 1948 Dr Grace Boelke (nee Robinson) died in Manly, NSW. Grace, along with Iza Coghlan, were the first two women medical students to graduate from Sydney University in 1893. Grace began a working career as a doctor for the Benevolent Asylum on Pitt Street, Sydney.
February 18
On this day in 1793 the first school in the Colony opened. The school was held in the newly finished church on the corner of Hunter and Castlereagh Streets during the weekdays. The Reverend Richard Johnson and his wife, Mary, taught between 150-200 children.
February 19
WWII - on this day in 1942 Darwin was attacked. At 9.58am Japanese bombers began to arrive over Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia in the first of two attacks. This first attack lasted approximately 40 minutes and bombs were dropped on the Allied warships and merchant vessels in Darwin Harbour, the RAAF Base and civilian airfield outside of town, along with the Army Barracks and oil store. The second attack at about midday again concentrated the bombing on the RAAF Base. It is estimated that approximately 683 bombs were dropped on Darwin over the two attacks. Between 250-320 people were killed and another 300-400 were wounded.
February 20
On this day in 1794 the first grant of land was given to a woman, Ellenor Frazer. She was granted 20 acres in the district of Concord by Francis Grose with the rent set at one shilling per year commencing after 10 years.
- For further information about land grants see Short Guide 8
- To read about records relating to women see our Women in the records gateway
February 22
On this day in 1792 the first land grant is recorded as being granted to James Ruse. Ruse arrived on the First Fleet on the Scarborough with a seven year sentence nearly expired. He was the first ex-convict to seek a grant of land and he successfully farmed the 30 acres at Paramatta before relocating to the Hawkesbury.
- For further information about land grants see Short Guide 8
- Search Colonial Secretary re land online index
February 24
On this day in 1899 Jane Ann Benson and Thomas Breckenridge ended their engagement. Their love story and subsequent trial is highlighted in a gallery.
February 25
On this day in 1840 the Buffalo arrived in Sydney with 58 French convicts from Lower Canada. These prisoners were interned near present-day Concord, resulting in the naming of French Bay, Canada Bay and Exile Bay. Most of the convicts returned home to Canada when their sentence expired.
- For more information on the French Canadian convicts see AIB 105
- Search convict Ticket of Leave Passports
February 27
On this day in 1788 Thomas Barrett became the first person to be executed by hanging in New South Wales. Barrett, who arrived in Port Jackson on the Charlotte, was executed for stealing some beef from the stores.
February 28
On this day in 1790 John Irving became the first convict to be granted an absolute pardon by Governor Phillip. Irving was transported on the Scarborough and Lady Penrhyn where his surgical training first came to notice. He was appointed assistant surgeon on Norfolk Island after his emancipation and returned to the mainland in 1791. Irving was granted 30 acres and posted to the temporary hospital at Parramatta. He died in 1795 and was buried at St John's Parramatta.
February 29
On this day in 1788 the first pardon was granted to James Freeman by Governor Arthur Phillip. Freeman had been found guilty of stealing flour in the fledgling Colony and his pardon was conditional on him becoming the Colony's public hangman.
