The pearling industry in Western Australia begins with Aboriginal divers. After the employment of Aboriginal people is banned, Javanese, Timorese and later Japanese divers are used. Aboriginal people kill 19 settlers near Emerald, Queensland. Later some 170 Aboriginal people are killed in reprisal. Torres Strait Islands - European settlement Pacific Islanders 1863 Government station is established at Somerset, on tip of Cape York peninsula, marking beginning of the impact of European settlement on Torres Strait Islands.
Missionary settlement follows, bringing disease and disruption to traditional lifestyles.
Labourers from Pacific Islands are brought to Queensland to work on cotton plantations, marking the beginning of large-scale immigration of South Sea Islanders. 1867 Anti-Chinese legislation in Victoria is lifted and later reintroduced. Anti-Chinese riot occurs on Crocodile Creek goldfields in Queensland. New South Wales repeals restrictions on Chinese immigration. All Aboriginal cricket team tours England - the first overseas cricket tour by an Australian team.