 On 12 May 1834, the Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land was created and Father John Bede Polding, an English Benedictine, was appointed Vicar Apostolic with jurisdiction over what is now the Commonwealth of Australia.The Diocese of Sydney ("Dioecesis Sydneyensis") was created on 28 February 1842 with Bishop Polding as its diocesan bishop.On 5 April 1842 the Apostolic Vicariate of Adelaide and the Vicariate Apostolic of Hobart were erected, on territory split from the Diocese of Sydney.