Timeline
1829
William Booth and Catherine Mumford born
1844
William Booth converts to Christianity.
1855
Marriage of William Booth to Catherine Mumford.
1858
William Booth ordained as a Methodist minister, having been accepted on probation in 1854.
1859
Mrs Catherine Booth's first pamphlet, Female Ministry, published.
1860
Catherine Booth's first public address.
1865
Reverend William Booth begins work in East London and forms the Christian Revival Association, 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
Edward Saunders and John Gore, converted to Christianity in London through the Christian Mission, lead an unofficial Salvation Army meeting in Australia from the back of a greengrocer's cart in Adelaide Botanic Park.
Catherine Booth publishes Aggressive Christianity.
1881
General William Booth appoints officers to commence the work of The Salvation Army in Australia.
1882
The Salvation Army commences work in New South Wales and Victoria.
1883
The Salvation Army commences work in Tasmania. Major James Barker leases 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’ for women in desperate need of assistance and discharged prisoners in Carlton (Vic.).
1885
The Salvation Army commences work in Queensland.
1890
The Salvation Army opens a free labour bureau in Melbourne to help people find jobs — the first formally operating employment bureau in Australia.
The Salvation Army opens its own bank.
Catherine Booth is promoted to Glory.
William Booth publishes In Darkest England and the Way Out, presenting his plans for a program to help the poor and needy.
1891
The Salvation Army commences work in Western Australia. The Limelight Brigade (later renamed the Limelight Department) begins with a limelight lantern projector advertising the visit of General William Booth and a 60-slide lantern show depicting scenes from In Darkest England and the Way Out.
1899
The Boer War breaks out and General Booth sends Salvationists to minister comfort and practical aid.
1900
Limelight Department premieres Soldiers of the Cross — an ingenious multi-media mix of motion picture film, magic-lantern slides, live music and oratory — at the Melbourne Town Hall to an audience of more than 2000 people.
1901
The Limelight Department, now considered Australia’s largest filmmaker, is commissioned to film Inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth and is registered as Australia’s first film production company: the Australian Kinematographic Company.
1903
Statistics show that 0.082 per cent of Australians identify as part of The Salvation Army.
1905
Booth campaigns in the Holy Land, Australia and New Zealand.
1910
William Booth sends a one-word telegram message, “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 7000 Salvationists at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
William Booth is promoted to Glory.
The Booth’s oldest son, Bramwell Booth, becomes the second General of The Salvation Army.
The Australasian Territory becomes the Australia Territory as New Zealand splits to become its own territory.
1914
WWI commences and the Red Shield Defence Services (chaplains) are sent around the world to minister to troops.
1920
The first Order of the Founder awards are given.
1921
The Australia Territory is split into two: the Australia Eastern and Australia Southern territories.
1923
The Salvation Army opens Foster House in Sydney’s Surry Hills to provide accommodation for men experiencing homelessness.
1928
General Bramwell Booth's last public appearance.
1929
General Bramwell Booth is deposed, and Edward Higgins is elected General 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.
1940
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 100 years since William Booth's conversion held in St Paul's Cathedral, London.
1945
WWII ends — marking the involvement of 264 Red Shield representatives and countless others who served in battle.
Flying padre (chaplaincy service) commences in the Australia Southern Territory.
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
The first Red Shield Appeal doorknock is run.
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 in the Australia Eastern Territory.
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.
Moneycare financial counselling service begins in Rockdale Corps (NSW).
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 (OF).
1986
Australian-born 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 and 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.
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.
2011
Linda Bond is the third woman to be elected 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, aged 85.
2016
International Chief of the Staff Commissioner Brian Peddle announces the unification work to commence of the Australia Southern and Australia Eastern territories into one Australia Territory.
2017
Salvos Funerals commences in NSW as an affordable funeral service.
2018
General Brian Peddle takes office as the 21st General of The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army Australia Territory is launched by General Peddle in Melbourne. Commissioners Floyd and Tracey Tidd officially appointed national leaders.
2020
Uncle Vince Ross is admitted to the Order of the Founder for his commitment to reconciliation. Australia launches its first National Reconciliation Action Plan.
2023
Lyndon Buckingham is appointed General.
2025
Australia launches its second Reconciliation Action Plan.