What did captain Arthur Phillip discover?

Answer 1

Mostly trees. There was no settlement and the Aborigines initially shunned the Europeans. There was just dense bushland, heat and humidity unlike anything the English colonists had ever experienced.

Answer 2

Technically James Cook (not yet a captain) discovered the Sydney area in 1770, but he spent very little time there, and in fact, landed at botany Bay, south of present-day Sydney, not Port Jackson, where Sydney was settled. Captain Phillip was the first to actually settle there and discover anything of note about it.

Answer 3

Captain Arthur Phillip undertook several expeditions of exploration in the immediate area. His explorations found good land to the west, although he was unable to cross the Blue Mountains. This discovery resulted in the first spread of settlement to the Parramatta and Rose Hill areas. He also traced the course of the Hawkesbury River as far upstream as he could, to Richmond Hill, and he then continued on to the junction with the Grose River.

Answer 4

Captain Arthur Phillip is best known as the one who established the first European settlement in Australia.

In October 1786, Phillip was appointed Governor-designate of the proposed British penal colony of New South Wales. He foresaw the need for practical men who could build and farm, tradesmen who would be useful in the new colony, and he requested that convicts with experience in farming, building and crafts be included in the First Fleet. However, his proposal was rejected, or ignored.

The First Fleet left Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787,and arrived in Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. Phillip immediately determined that there was insufficient fresh water, an absence of usable timber, poor quality soil and no safe harbour at Botany Bay. Thus the fleet was moved to Port Jackson, arriving on 26 January 1788.

Phillip faced many obstacles in his attempts to establish the new colony. British farming methods, seeds and implements were unsuitable for use in the different climate and soil: much of the seed had rotted or been eaten by rats on the journey over, and the implements and tools could not stand up to the tougher treatment and conditions of the Australian soil and climate. The colony faced near-starvation in its first two years, and was finally saved by the success of a barley crop.

Out of necessity, due to the growing need for more land in Sydney, Phillip undertook several expeditions of exploration in the immediate area. His explorations resulted in the first spread of settlement to the Parramatta and Rose Hill areas. He also traced the course of the Hawkesbury River as far upstream as he could, to Richmond Hill, and he then continued on to the junction with the Grose River.

Despite numerous setbacks, under Phillip's rationing and sensible direction, the colony finally succeeded in developing a solid foundation, agriculturally and economically, thanks to the perseverance of Captain Arthur Phillip. As a military man, he began to establish a legal code by publishing weekly orders for the governance of the colony. It was by his leadership alone that the colony became entirely self-sufficient. He also worked to improve understanding with the local Aborigines.

Also whilst Governor, Captain Arthur Phillip established the military colony to protect the East India Company trade as directed, and in doing so also preempted French intrusion into the area. He also established a station on Norfolk Island, under Philip Gidley King, to begin to supply masts and flax for the British fleet.