What were the conditions of the journey and arrival of the First Fleet in Australia?

Answer 1

Conditions on the First fleet were not pleasant, but they could certainly have been worse.

The journey was long and difficult, and most of the convicts had never even set foot off England's shores. Many of them experienced seasickness, especially once the fleet crossed the equator and weather turned stormy and the seas turbulent.

The convicts were treated better on the First Fleet's ships than on the second and third fleets. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible.

The convicts were kept below decks for most of the journey, but permitted above deck on occasion in order to get fresh air and exercise. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a busket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste.

The food eaten by convicts was fairly ordinary. Conivcts were given a portion of that allotted to the marines and seamen, who were to be given the following rations:

• seven pounds of bread a week
• four pounds of salted beef
• two pounds of salted pork
• two pints of peas
• three pints of oatmeal
• six ounces of butter
• three-quarters of a pound of cheese
• half a pint of vinegar
• three and a half pints of rum
• a pound of fresh bread or, when that ran out, a long-lasting "hardtack" bread made from barley

Scurvy was a problem, as in between ports where fruits and vegetables were purchased at each stop, availability of fresh foods was extremely limited.

Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. At the same time, many of these women were quite prepared to offer their "services" for a few extra rations.

Answer 2

The first Fleet was exactly that - a fleet. Therefore, they sailed. There were eleven ships in all: some were convict transports and some were supply ships.

If the question refers to which route they took, they sailed from Portsmouth in England to Tenerife in the Canary islands. From there they went to Rio de Janeiro in South America, and from there to Cape Town, southern Africa. From Cape Town, they sailed to Botany Bay.

Answer 3

Conditions on the First fleet were not pleasant, but they could certainly have been worse.

The journey was long and difficult, and most of the convicts had never even set foot off England's shores. Many of them experienced seasickness, especially once the fleet crossed the equator and weather turned stormy and the seas turbulent.

The convicts were treated better on the First Fleet's ships than on the second and third fleets. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible.

The convicts were kept below decks for most of the journey, but permitted above deck on occasion in order to get fresh air and exercise. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a busket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste.

The food eaten by convicts was fairly ordinary. Conivcts were given a portion of that allotted to the marines and seamen, who were to be given the following rations:

• seven pounds of bread a week
• four pounds of salted beef
• two pounds of salted pork
• two pints of peas
• three pints of oatmeal
• six ounces of butter
• three-quarters of a pound of cheese
• half a pint of vinegar
• three and a half pints of rum
• a pound of fresh bread or, when that ran out, a long-lasting "hardtack" bread made from barley

Scurvy was a problem, as in between ports where fruits and vegetables were purchased at each stop, availability of fresh foods was extremely limited.

Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. At the same time, many of these women were quite prepared to offer their "services" for a few extra rations.

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Answer 4

When the First Fleet arrived in Australia, they encountered thick bushland, and not much more. The terrain was uneven and rocky, and the soil was too hard for their delicate English tools, causing them to break easily. The Australian summer was hot and humid, unlike anything they had ever encountered, and the convicts were often too hot and uncomfortable to work. The air was heavy with the scent of eucalyptus. The officers encountered laziness and rebellion among the convicts. The convicts had only rough shelters and tents when they first arrived, and the summer storms would have come upon them suddenly and ferociously, soaking them and increasing their discomfort.

Answer 5

The initial feeling of the crew and passengers of the First Fleet was utter relief. They had been at sea for over eight months, and now they had finally reached land.

However, the land proved to be vastly different from what most of them - especially the convicts and marines - expected, though the officers were a little more prepared. When the First Fleet arrived in Australia, they encountered thick bushland, and not much more. As they arrived, in the distance atop the headlands, stood native Aborigines with spears, and the white people had no way of knowing whether they would be friendly or hostile. After the people of the First Fleet came ashore and set up their initial camp, they would hear in the distance the strange sounds of aboriginal corroborees.

The terrain of the land was uneven and rocky, and the soil was too hard for the delicate English tools, causing them to break easily. The Australian summer was hot and humid, unlike anything they had ever encountered, and the convicts were often too hot and uncomfortable to work. Food was scarce, and punishments were harsh for anyone caught stealing rations. The air was heavy with the scent of eucalyptus. The officers encountered laziness and rebellion among the convicts. The convicts had only rough shelters and tents when they first arrived, and the summer storms would have come upon them suddenly and ferociously, soaking them and increasing their discomfort.

Answer 6

The journey was long and difficult, and most of the convicts had never even set foot off England's shores. Many of them experienced seasickness, especially once the fleet crossed the equator and weather turned stormy and the seas turbulent.

The convicts were treated better on the First Fleet's ships than on the second and third fleets. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible.

The convicts were kept below decks for most of the journey, but permitted above deck on occasion in order to get fresh air and exercise. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a bucket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste.

The food eaten by convicts was fairly ordinary. Conivcts were given a portion of that allotted to the marines and seamen, who were to be given the following rations:

• seven pounds of bread a week
• four pounds of salted beef
• two pounds of salted pork
• two pints of peas
• three pints of oatmeal
• six ounces of butter
• three-quarters of a pound of cheese
• half a pint of vinegar
• three and a half pints of rum
• a pound of fresh bread or, when that ran out, a long-lasting "hardtack" bread made from barley

Scurvy was a problem, as in between ports where fruits and vegetables were purchased at each stop, availability of fresh foods was extremely limited.

Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. At the same time, many of these women were quite prepared to offer their "services" for a few extra rations.

Answer 7

For various reasons, the British Government chose to establish a colony in Australia, claiming the continent for its empire, and sent 11 ship loads of people, including convicts, to colonise the land.

Conditions in England in the 18th century were tough: the industrial revolution had removed many people's opportunities to earn an honest wage as simpler tasks were replaced by machine labour. As unemployment rose, so did crime, especially the theft of basic necessities such as food and clothing. The British prison system was soon full to overflowing, and a new place had to be found to ship the prison inmates. The American colonies were no longer viable, following the American war of Independence. Following Captain Cook's voyage to the South Pacific in 1770, the previously uncharted continent of New Holland proved to be suitable. Cook had claimed the eastern half of the continent for England, naming it "New South Wales", and determined that a small bay in the south which he named "botany Bay" would present the ideal conditions for a penal colony.

On 18 August 1786 the decision was made to send a colonisation party of convicts, military and civilian personnel to Botany Bay, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, who was appointed Governor-designate.

Answer 8

Captain Arthur Phillip knew the importance of keeping the convicts healthy so that they could help build the new colony in New South Wales, so thanks to him, the convicts on the First Fleet were subjected to better conditions than convicts of subsequent fleets. Phillip was, in fact, harsher in his discipline with the marines and sailors than he was with the convicts. He was concerned at all times for the convicts' health, trying to give them sufficient rations of food and water, and allowing them above decks for some exercise and fresh air as often as was possible. He knew that they would be invaluable to the building of the new colony.

Phillip avoided having the convicts come above decks when the ships hit the rainstorms and wild weather once they crossed the equator, because he knew they had no linens or blankets to dry themselves, and he wanted to limit illness among the convicts.

The women were subject to be used promiscuously by the sailors, but in many cases they were quite willing to sell themselves for a bit of extra food.

The marines had fairly close quarters themselves, only they weren't restrained. Their food was the same as that of the convicts but they had more of it. Conditions were best for the officers.