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Diana Mudgee timeline

This is a timeline of the main events relating to Diana's life.

1801

William Phillips born - Plymouth, England.

1814

Robert Rayner born - Suffolk, England.

1814-15

William Cox builds the first road across the Blue Mountains.

1816

George Cox (son of William) is granted 600 acres of land at Mulgoa, this becomes the site of his home 'Winbourne'.

1820

William Phillips, a convict, arrives in Australia aboard the “Coromandel”.

1821

James Blackman becomes the first European person in the immediate Mudgee area and the first to cross the Cudgegong River. George Cox is also involved in this exploration and takes up land in the Mudgee area.

1824

Martial law is declared resulting in the massacre of many Aboriginal people, quite likely including some of Diana’s family members. Information available suggests that Diana’s parents were killed in a massacre some time before 1839. George Henry COX is born at ‘Winbourne’.

1826

Diana Mudgee (Jennings) is born in Mudgee. Her birth is not officially registered. Birth date is assumed from Conditional Purchase records in 1885.

1830

Robert Rayner, a convict, arrives in Australia on the “Burrill”.

1837

William Phillips begins working for George Cox in Bathurst.

1838

William Phillips obtains a Ticket of Leave. The town of Mudgee is gazetted. George Cox granted 2,560 acres of land in Mudgee.

1839

Diana’s first child, Sarah Knight, is born in Mulgoa. Her father is James Knight.

1840

Diana marries William Phillips in St Thomas' Church in Mulgoa and returns to Mudgee shortly after.

1840

Diana marries William Phillips in St Thomas' Church in Mulgoa and returns to Mudgee shortly after.

1842-45

Diana has two daughters with William Phillips, Mary Ann and Emma, both born in the Mudgee area.

1845

William Phillips disappears some time after the birth of Emma, his second daughter to Diana. George Henry Cox takes up administration of the Cox family estates in Mudgee.

1846

William Phillips receives a Conditional Pardon. Mudgee consists of 36 homes, 3 hotels, 1 hospital, 1 post office, 2 stores and an Anglican church.

1847

James Knight dies in Mulgoa. George Cox refers to James’ death in his letters to his son George Henry.

William Rayner, the first of seven children between Diana and Robert Rayner is born. Robert Rayner and Diana never married. Robert was also involved with Mary Cummings (Christie) and had two children with her.

1848

Elizabeth Rayner born

1852 (or 1862)

William Phillips dies (records are unclear as to whether William died in 1852 or 1862).

1855

Shadrack Robert Rayner born.

1857

John Blackhall arrives in Australia.

1858

Caroline Rayner born.

1860

11 November, Piambong - Death of Diana’s daughter Caroline Rayner from whooping cough. Mudgee’s population increased to around 1500.

Robert Rayner acquires land at Piambong (near Mudgee) via conditional purchase.

1861

Harriet Rayner born.

1864

Construction of Burrundulla homestead is completed by George Henry Cox.

1866

4 July, Piambong - John Blackhall marries Diana’s daughter Elizabeth Rayner, aged 18.

Thomas Rayner born.

1871

3 June, Piambong - Death of Thomas Rayner, Diana’s tenth child.

1872

6 August, Mudgee - Marriage of George Vitnell to Diana’s daughter Jane Rayner, aged 21.

1874

August 6 - Robert Rayner dies at Mudgee.

1875

John and Elizabeth Blackhall take up 50 acres of land at Spicers Creek.

1877

8 April - Marriage of Diana’s son Shadrack Robert Rayner to Sarah Ann Metcalf

1878

Submission made to establish a school at Spicers Creek. 1 October - Marriage of Richard Smith and Diana’s daughter, Harriet Rayner, aged 17.

1880

John Blackhall becomes the first postmaster of Spicers Creek. John Blackhall acquires a further 300 acres of land.

1885

Diana Mudgee is granted a Conditional Purchase of 400 acres of land at Piambong which she is able to improve with the assistance of George Henry Cox.

1886

Death of Diana's daughter, Harriet Smith (nee Rayner), aged 25.

1892

Diana applies for additional land.

1896

By this time, ownership of the land previously owned by Diana has fallen to Reginald Belmore Cox.

1902

4 May, Piambong - Death of Diana Mudgee, aged 76. Buried Piambong.

The Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902 revokes the voting rights of Aboriginal men.

Women are granted voting rights in Australia.

1917

11 October, Spicers Creek - Death of Elizabeth Blackhall (nee Rayner).

1919

24 March, Dubbo - Death of Jane Vitnell (nee Rayner).

1922

28 July, Cunnamulla QLD – Death of William Rayner, aged 75.

1924

30 September - Death of Shadrack Robert Rayner, aged 69.

Last updated: 02 February 2021