Why did the British establish a colonies in Australia?

Answer 1

The British decided to establish a colony in Australia for several reasons. The main reason was to solve the problem of Britain's overcrowded prisons (a consequence of the Industrial Revolution) by establishing a new penal colony in a land which showed promise for eventually becoming self-supporting. Britain had been sending their excess prisoners to North America, but the American War of Independence put a stop to the practice. Following this, the English were no longer able to transport surplus prisoners who couldn't legally be executed to North America.

Great Britain also wished to expand the British empire, and prevent the French from gaining a foothold in the Australian continent or in that part of the Pacific. By colonising Australia, its resources could be utilised (or exploited) and therefore the continent could provide commercial and political gains to Britain. Further, Britain needed a port in the East to promote trade with China and to extend its naval and commercial power.

The first permanent settlers arrived in Australia with the First Fleet on 26 January 1788 to set up the new penal colony.

Although other countries had the opportunity to colonise Australia, they chose not to. Australia was first "officially" discovered by Dutch traders in the East Indies: however, they landed in the west, one of the least forgiving areas of the continent and decided that it was not worth colonising. Likewise the French, hearing of the Dutch discovery, sent an expedition to map more of the coast. This did not, however, lead to any attempts to colonise and the continent was left alone for another hundred years. Even the English pirate and explorer William Dampier, who also landed in the northwest, dismissed the continent as inhabitable.

It was not until James Cook's successful voyage which involved charting the eastern coast of Australia, that New South Wales was seen as a viable proposition for a convict colony. In particular, it was endorsed by Sir Joseph Banks, the influential botanist who travelled with Cook. Banks was one of three botanists aboard Cook's ship "The Endeavour", and he was a passionate advocate of British settlement and colonisation of the Australian continent. James Cook declared the land terra nullius, or no-man's land. He did not recognise the ownership of the indigenous people, so the British believed they could inhabit the land, not considering their actions as "invasion". It was largely upon Cook's and Banks's recommendation that Australian ultimately was colonised by the British, and not by another power later.

Answer 2

The British decided to establish a colony in Australia for several reasons. The main reason was to solve the problem of Britain's overcrowded prisons (a consequence of the Industrial Revolution) by establishing a new penal colony in a land which showed promise for eventually becoming self-supporting. Britain had been sending their excess prisoners to North America, but the American War of Independence put a stop to the practice. Following this, the English were no longer able to transport surplus prisoners who couldn't legally be executed to North America.

Great Britain also wished to expand the British empire, and prevent the French from gaining a foothold in the Australian continent or in that part of the Pacific. By colonising Australia, its resources could be utilised (or exploited) and therefore the continent could provide commercial and political gains to Britain. Further, Britain needed a port in the East to promote trade with China and to extend its naval and commercial power.

The first permanent settlers arrived in Australia with the First Fleet on 26 January 1788 to set up the new penal colony.

Although other countries had the opportunity to colonise Australia, they chose not to. Australia was first "officially" discovered by Dutch traders in the East Indies: however, they landed in the west, one of the least forgiving areas of the continent and decided that it was not worth colonising. Likewise the French, hearing of the Dutch discovery, sent an expedition to map more of the coast. This did not, however, lead to any attempts to colonise and the continent was left alone for another hundred years. Even the English pirate and explorer William Dampier, who also landed in the northwest, dismissed the continent as inhabitable.

It was not until James Cook's successful voyage which involved charting the eastern coast of Australia, that New South Wales was seen as a viable proposition for a convict colony. In particular, it was endorsed by Sir Joseph Banks, the influential botanist who travelled with Cook. Banks was one of three botanists aboard Cook's ship "The Endeavour", and he was a passionate advocate of British settlement and colonisation of the Australian continent. James Cook declared the land terra nullius, or no-man's land. He did not recognise the ownership of the indigenous people, so the British believed they could inhabit the land, not considering their actions as "invasion". It was largely upon Cook's and Banks's recommendation that Australian ultimately was colonised by the British, and not by another power later.