The Apostolic Prefecture of New Holland was a short-lived (1816–1819) Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in colonial Australia.
In 1681, Fr Vittorio Riccio OP of Manila was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Terra Australis.
[1] Fr James Dixon, the first Catholic priest permitted to minister in Australia, was briefly appointed Prefect Apostolic of New Holland in 1803.
[2] The Prefecture was established in 1816 as an Apostolic Prefecture (missionary pre-diocesan jurisdiction; exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province) in Australia, a territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of the London District (in still missionary England; of a higher pre-diocesan rank, entitled to a titular bishop).
Fr Jeremiah O'Flynn was appointed and arrived in Sydney but was soon expelled by Governor Macquarie as he lacked government authorisation.