Gold field was declared in the area around Clermont.
Richmond Downs cattle run taken up by Bundock and Hays from the Richmond River district of New South Wales.
Late in the year Governor Bowen and Commodore Burnett changed the name of the river at Mackay to Pioneer, after the vessel in which they travelled to avoid confusion with a Mackay River at Rockingham Bay (now the Tully River). To placate the explorer, they named the newly established township on the south bank of the Pioneer after him.
February
26 Captain John Mackay returned to the Pioneer Valley with 1200 head of cattle to establish the original settlement of Greenmoun about twenty kilometres from the mouth of the river. (or January?)
May
John McKinlay, searching for Burke & Wills, followed the Leichhardt River down to salt water and camped 5 miles from the sea. Commander Norman and the "Victoria" had left the Albert some months before.
August
John Mackay leaves Greenmount after partnership with James Starr goes sour.
October
First residents arrive in the fledgling township of Port Mackay and start building first stores.
November
23 Lieutenant G.P. Heath in the Rockhampton Pilot Boat "Satellite" and surveys the Pioneer River.
December
27 Mackay River renamed the Pioneer River. Commodore Burnett of HMS Pioneer had traversed the Queensland coastline and as there was already a Mackay River in Rockingham Bay proposed to rename the river to avoid confusion.