1850 - Geelong is the fifth largest town in Victoria.
1851 - Gold is found in the Mount Bunninyong district
1851 - Geelong population is 8,000
1853 - Geelong population is 22,000
1857 - Victoria's first country railway from Geelong to Melbourne is built
1859 - Thomas Austin releases 24 rabbits into the wild on his property 'Barwon Park' at Winchelsea just outside Geelong on Christmas Day, introducing the rabbit to Australia.