Work completed on first Bowen jetty.
Catholic church opened in Clermont.
Gold found at Upper Cape River.
Hamilton Island shown on charts as part of Dent Island with the whole entity named Passage Island, due to proximity to the Whitsunday Passage.
Tropical diseases ravaged the population of Burketown after the Margaret and Mary arrived from Sydney with The Fever (thought to be Typhoid). Between 25 and 50 people died, including most of the crew and passengers and the Captain's wife. Landsborough evacuated survivors to Sweers Island for 18 months, where a further two died and were buried on the Island.
Thomas Henry Fitzgerald takes up land on south banks of Pioneer River and calls plantation "Alexandra".
Mackay was connected by telegraph to Brisbane and Bowen.
February
William Landsborough, the first Police Magistrate,arrived in Burketown, accompanied by Sub-Inspector Wentworth D'Arcy Uhr with eight troopers.
A landing was made on Hayman Island during Nares' survey of the Whitsundays.
April
4 W.O. Hodgkinson commences publication of the towns first newspaper the Mackay Mercury.
July
25 The first official race meeting at Burketown was held with prize money at $200 (sic).
August
14 75 allotments were sold at the first land sale in Burketown
February
October
13 Sailing directions from HMS Salamander published in the Port Denison Times describe Hayman Island as scantily wooded except near the peaks, with grass so thick it was with great difficulty the party was able to get through it on their way to the highest peak to make observations.