Historical timeline

1829

William Booth and Catherine Mumford born.

1844

William Booth converted to Christianity.

1855

Marriage of William Booth and Catherine Booth, née Mumford.

1858

Booth ordained as a Methodist minister, having been accepted on probation in 1854.

1859

Mrs Booth's first pamphlet, Female Ministry, published.

1860

Mrs Booth's first public address.

1865

Rev. Booth begins work in East London. Christian Revival Association is formed, which later becomes the Christian Mission.

1878

First use of the term "Salvation Army" and description of Booth as "General"; First use of brass instruments.

1879

First cadets trained as officers.

1880

Two members of The Salvation Army in London, Edward Saunders and John Gore, led the first Salvation Army meeting in Australia from the back of a greengrocer's cart in Adelaide Botanic Park; The first Salvation Army recycling depots were opened in Australia; Catherine Booth has Aggressive Christianity published and Booth's controversial book, In Darkest England and The Way Out, was published in which he presented his plans for a program to help the poor and needy.

1882

The Salvation Army commences work in New South Wales and Victoria

1883

The Salvation Army commences work in Tasmania; Major James Barker leased a small house in Lygon Street, Carlton (Vic) to provide accommodation for prisoners discharged from Melbourne's jails; First War Cry published in Australia.

1884

Opening of a Fallen Sister's Home in Carlton.

1885

The Salvation Army commences work in Queensland.

1890

The Army opens a free labour bureau in Melbourne to help people find jobs, the first formally operating employment bureau in Australia; Catherine Booth is promoted to glory; The Salvation Army opens its own bank; Booth publishes In Darkest England and the Way Out.

1891

The Salvation Army commences work in Western Australia.

1898

Australia's first film studio built at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

1899

First Australian narrative film on social work, entitled Social Salvation; Contingents from Australia disembarked on 26th November 1899 at Cape Town being the first of the Empire's Colonies to respond to the call of 'Mother England' and have troops in South Africa.

1900

First narrative drama film presentation, consisting of an ingenious mix of moving film, glass-slides, oratory and music; Soldiers of the Cross premiered at the Melbourne Town Hall.

1901

First feature-length documentary film, Inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth; First registered film production company, the Australasian Kinematographic Company.

1902

First Australian history documentary, Under Southern Skies; First bushranging drama, Bushranging in North Queensland.

1903

The Salvation Army makes claim to 0.082 percent of Australia's population

1905

Booth campaigns in the Holy Land, Australia and New Zealand;

1910

William Booth sends a one-word telegram messaged “Others” to the Army’s gathering at their annual convention.

1912

William Booth gives his famous “I’ll fight” speech to a packed crowd of 7,000 Salvationists at the Royal Albert Hall in London; William Booth’s oldest son, Bramwell Booth, becomes the second General of The Salvation Army.

1915

At a little known beach in Turkey, named Gallipoli, two legends were forged. The first was the courage of the Australian soldier: the second was the wartime service of The Salvation Army.

1923

The Salvation Army opens Foster House in Sydney’s Surry Hills to provide accommodation for homeless men.

1928

General Bramwell Booth's last public appearance.

1929

General Edward Higgins elected by the First High Council; General Bramwell Booth is promoted to glory.

1934

Evangeline Booth is elected General.

1939

The third High Council elects George Carpenter to General; WWII commences.

1940

The Second World War expands its theatre of operations, Salvationists follows suit where possible; The Salvation Army commences work in the Northern Territory.

1941

Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service (recognition of outstanding contributions by non- Salvationists) commences.

1943

The Salvation Army Medical Fellowship, and the SA Nurses Fellowship (until 1987), commence.

1944

Thanksgiving service for William Booth's conversion, in St Paul's Cathedral, London.

1945

WWII ends.

1946

Fourth High Council elects Albert Orsborn to General.

1948

First world-wide broadcast by the Army.

1954

Fifth High Council elects Wilfred Kitching to General.

1963

Sixth High Council elects Frederick Coutts to General.

1964

The Salvation Army Bridge Program for rehabilitation begins.

1965

Captain Hilton Morris arrives in Alice Springs and opens the Alice Springs Corps; The Salvation Army purchases a four-seater Auster Autocar aircraft to be based in Longreach and used for outreach over the vast Queensland outback. Lieutenants Alf and Noela Dawkins were appointed to pioneer the flying padre service.

1969

Seventh High Council elects Erik Wickberg to General.

1974

The Salvation Army is among the first to fly into Darwin on Boxing Day to provide disaster relief to Darwin after Cyclone Tracy; Eighth High Council elects Clarence Wiseman to General.

1977

Salvation Army officers from all around Sydney bring practical assistance and ongoing emotional support to families after the Granville rail disaster; Arnold Brown becomes General, via the ninth High Council.

1981

Tenth High Council elects Jarl Wahlstrom to General.

1983

The Salvation Army establishes a 24-hour telephone counselling service as a pilot project managed by Salvationist, Alan Staines.

1986

Eva Burrows is elected General at the 11th High Council.

1993

Bramwell Tillsley is elected General by the 12th High Council.

1994

General Tillsley retires due to ill-health; Paul Rader is elected General by the 13th High Council.

1998

International Conference of Leaders, in Melbourne, addresses challenges of a new millennium.

1999

John Gowans is elected General by the 14th High Council.

2001

Recovery Services Command and Red Shield Industries / Family Stores administrative operations were separated to enable a more focused strategic direction for each.

2002

John Larsson becomes General.

2003

Red Shield Family Stores trading entity was renamed and branded "Salvos Stores"

2005

Salvos Legal was birthed by pioneer Luke Geary.

2006

Shaw Clifton is elected as General of The Salvation Army.

2010

Salvos Legal launches in Australia.

2011

Linda Bond becomes the third woman to become General.

2013

André Cox becomes the 20th General of The Salvation Army.

2015

Australian and 13th General of The Salvation Army, Eva Burrows, is promoted to glory at age 85.

2016

National Commander Commissioner Floyd Tidd announces that the two Australian Territories (Australian Southern Territory and Australian Eastern Territory) will become one Australian Territory.

2018

General Brian Peddle takes office as the 21st General of The Salvation Army.