The concept of the MeerLICHT telescope - a simultaneous optical coverage of the transient radio sky - came about at the June 2012 ThunderKAT meeting in Oxford. Here we show some of the relevant time lines and milestones. We are currently in the science operations phase of MeerLICHT.

Pre-construction: 2012 – 2015

Construction: 2016 – 2017 (Jan-February)

Installation and commissioning: 2017 (March - December) - 2018 (January - May)

Opening: 25 May 2018

Early science: 2018 (June+)

Science operations: 2018/9 – present