Anti-Chinese riot takes place at Lambing Flat on New South Wales goldfields.
New South Wales Parliament passes Chinese Immigrants Regulation and Restriction Act, imposing a poll tax on Chinese entering the colony.
The Chinese constitute the third largest group in Australia, after the British (including the Irish) and Germans.
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.
