1808 in Australia

The following lists events that happened during 1808 in Australia.

← 1807 1806 1805 1808 in Australia → 1809 1810 1811
Decades:	1780s 1790s 1800s 1810s 1820s
See also:	Other events of 1808 Timeline of Australian history

Incumbents

• Monarch - George III

Governors

Governors of the Australian colonies:

• Governor of New South Wales – Captain William Bligh (until 26 January by no coincidence), then Major George Johnston (until 28 July), then Major Joseph Foveaux
• Lieutenant-Governor of Southern Van Diemen's Land – David Collins
• Lieutenant-Governor of Northern Van Diemen's Land – William Paterson (until 24 March)

Events

• 26 January – John Macarthur is arrested sparking the Rum Rebellion. Military officers supporting Macarthur arrest Governor Bligh.
• 2 February – William Paterson sails to Sydney from Port Dalrymple, Van Diemen's Land to take over the administration of New South Wales following the removal of Bligh.

Exploration and settlement

• First settlement at Kingston, Van Diemen's Land.

Births

• 23 September – William Henty, one of the Henty brothers (although the only brother not to set foot in Portland, Victoria): he took a leading part in the legal disputes over the settlement.

Deaths

• 19 June – Alexander Dalrymple, who had strongly opposed the establishment of New South Wales in A Serious Admonition to the Public on the Intended Thief-Colony at Botany Bay (London, 1786).
• 3 September – Philip Gidley King, third Governor of New South Wales.