1800-1850 –Trade routes between Australia and Asia brought hundreds of sailing ships from Brisbane and Sydney through Torres Strait and onto ports in India and other parts of Asia.

1834 – Goods from the Philippines opened to international trade and made their way into the Australian market through the British ports of Singapore and Hong Kong.

 1845 – Sydney based entrepreneur, Robert Towns shipped 258 tons of sugar into Sydney from Manila

1856– Australia became the leading market for Philippine coffee

1857– Australia imported sugar and rope from the Philippines