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Australian Colonial Settlement
Arrival of the first fleet, establishment of the colonies, and the period up to Federation in 1901.
992 Questions
Why was Australia chosen as the destination for the First Fleet over any other location?
There were several reasons why the British Government decided to establish a colony in Australia for several reasons, using the First Fleet of convicts and officers in order to do so.
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. This would also provide a British presence in the South Pacific which, it was hoped, would offset French interests in the region, whilst also providing resources for Great Britain to use.
What month did James Cook discover Australia?
James Cook did not discover Australia. However, he first landed on Australia's shores in April 1770.
The first non-Aboriginal people to visit Australia were the Malay and Indian traders, from the Indonesian islands. They collected sea slugs from the Australian coast to trade with china, where the slugs were a prized delicacy.
The Portuguese are believed to have discovered Australia in the 1500s, but all records of their visit/s have been lost.
Willem Jansz/Janszoon was a Dutchman who was seeking new trade routes and trade associates. He became the first recorded European to step foot on Australia's shores on the western shore of Cape York Peninsula, on 26 February 1606. However, he believed the Cape to be part of New Guinea, from whence he crossed the Arafura Sea, so Australia was not charted as a separate continent at that stage.
In 1616, Dutch sea-captain Dirk Hartog sailed too far whilst trying out Henderik Brouwer's recently discovered route from the Cape of Good Hope to Batavia, via the Roaring Forties. Reaching the western coast of Australia, he landed at Cape Inscription on 25 October 1616. His is the first known record of a European visiting Western Australia's shores.
The first Englishman to visit Australia was William Dampier, in 1688.
James Cook (not a captain at this stage) charted the eastern coast and claimed it in the name of the British in 1770, and for this reason, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia. Captain Cook was on a scientific expedition to observe the transit of Venus from Tahiti when he continued west, coming across New Zealand and then continuing on until he reached the Australian mainland and charted the Eastern coast. Cook was the first European to sight and chart the eastern coast of Australia, which he did between April and August 1770, naming the land New South Wales. He explored much of the eastern Australian coast on behalf of Britain, which was looking to found new colonies given the looming probable independence of the American colonies.
When did Gregory Blaxland die?
Gregory Blaxland was one of the first three Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains. This was significant because, after the colony of Sydney/New South Wales had been virtually imprisoned by the mountains for twenty five years, graziers and farmers were now able to expand out into new grasslands and agricultural lands. It marked a new season of prosperity for Australia.
How did some of the convicts feel when they escaped?
Many of the convicts believes that they could get to China from Sydney Cove. they were wrong, of course, but they were determined to push through the bush until tey got there. As a result, many perished in the bush, unused to the unfamiliar environment, and unable to survive.
Some of the convicts felt defiant, and turned to bushranging. Others felt a sense of freedom - until they discovered there was simply nowhere to go, and turned themselves back in.
What medical supplies did they have on the first fleet?
The First Fleet primarily brought convicts. There were many sailors, marines and officers as well, and a large number of stock animals. In addition, there were seeds, plants, equipment, tools and supplies to establish a new colony.
To see a complete list of provisions and supplies brought by the First Fleet, click on the related link below.
What features of the east coast did James Cook believe made it suitable for colonization?
The eastern coast of Australia was/is characterised by bushland which indicated to Cook that it was fertile country, unlike the countryside that had been explored in the west to that date. There were numerous river mouths, indicating sufficient fresh water, and also large bays suitable for ships.
How many kilometres did the first fleet travel from Portsmouth to Sydney Cove?
The distancetravelledby the First Fleet was about 24 000 kilometres, or 15 000 miles.
What punishment happened on the first fleet?
The convicts of the First Fleet were most commonly punished by being placed on reduced rations, meaning they were given less food, or certain privileges such as tobacco, tea or sugar were withdrawn.
The Cat o' nine tails was a particularly vicious type of punishment. This was a whip with nine cords of leather, each of which had a metal triangle embedded in the end. A convict was given between 10 and 50 lashes (in some case more), and within just a few lashes, the flesh would be ripped out, sometimes to the point where the bone was exposed.
What powers did colonies have?
A striking feature was the lack of controlling influence by the English government. All colonies, except Georgia, emerged as companies of shareholder or as feudal proprietorship stemming from charters.
The colonial governments had power to pass laws and create taxes.
What date did the First Fleet arrive in Tenerife?
The First Fleet assembled in Portsmouth, England, and set sail on 13 May 1787. On 3 June 1787, the fleet arrived at Santa Cruz, Tenerife in the Canary islands, to take on board fresh water, vegetables and meat. Phillip and the chief officers were entertained by the local governor, while one convict tried unsuccessfully to escape.
What is the difference between a naval fleet and a merchant fleet?
Essentially, merchant ships carry cargo, warships are armed for war. The line was blurred somewhat in WWII becasue merchant ships were, in many cases, armed for defence against German submarines and aircraft (although the guns were manned by RN crews on British ships).
When did the first fleet stop at Tasmania?
The First Fleet did not stop in Tasmania. There was no settlement in Tasmania (then called Van Diemen's Land), and it was not the location where the new colony was to be established, so there was no reason to stop there.
What were the supply ships from the first fleet?
navy,supply,store ship,covict transport,armed tender,sixth rate war ship.
How were convicts treated on ships?
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.
Thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the convicts on the First Fleet were treated surprisingly well. 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 their 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 avoided them coming 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.
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.
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. 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.
However, the Second Fleet was not under British authority: it was contracted out to a private company, one which was involved in the transportation of slaves to America. Many convicts died on the Second Fleet due to illness, malnourishment and mistreatment. The convicts who lived arrived in an appalling condition, unfit for any work. It was not until the government resumed direct authority for transportation that convicts were treated better.
How did the convicts try to escape the colony on the first fleet?
Once the convicts of the First Fleet arrived in Australia, they were not manacled or shackled unless they were being punished. There was opportunity for them to escape into the bush, and many believed (incorrectly, of course) that beyond the bushland lay China. While most were scared of the unfamiliar terrain, sounds and scenery, and did not attempt to leave, those that did invarioably either perished in the bush or returned to face their punishment.
What was the first fleet ships made of?
Long on keel and narrow of beam, the first US Navy ships such as "Old Ironsides" had their hulls and frames constructed of pine and oak, including the wood of Southern White Oak trees - and that's no bilgewater, sailor!
Just access the related link(s) listed belowdecks to avoid further scuttlebutt:
What would have happened if the first fleet did not arrive here?
Their would not be and white people in Australia and their would be many more aboriginals
Actually, it is more conceivable that the French would have carried through with their claims to Australian territory, and most people would now be speaking French here.
Where did the First Fleet stop on the way to Australia?
The First Fleet made three stops.
- From Portsmouth, Britain to Tenerife in the Canary Islands , off the north western coast of Africa.
- From the Canary Islands, the Fleet passed the Cape Verde Islands, off the west coast of Africa, but strong winds prevented the Fleet from stopping there. From the Cape Verde islands the Fleet moved on to Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, where it reprovisioned.
- The next stop was the Cape Town, on the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), from where it continued on to New South Wales.
Where did the First Fleet go after Botany Bay?
The First Fleet made its first stop at Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.
How are Blaxland Wentworth and Lawson remembered?
Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth are remembered for being the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains in 1813.
They departed South Creek, Sydney Cove, on 11 May 1813 with four servants, five dogs and four horses. Their exploration was significant because the discovery of a traversible route over the Blue Mountains meant that the colony of Sydney could now expand to the rich grasslands on the other side.
There are various ways in which they are remembered for their feat. there are numerous towns named with Lawson, Blaxland or Wentworth scattered around Australia. At Mt Blaxland, the farthest point of their journey, there is a cairn marking the most westerly point of their journey. There are also markers on the slopes of Mt Blaxland which indicate points along their journey.
What is the first fleet's importance to Australia?
The First Fleet was the fleet in which the first permanent settlers travelled to Australia. Consisting of convicts, marines and officers, the members of the First Fleet literally built Australia from nothing but bushland. Australia Day celebrates the arrival of the First Fleet and the beginning of European colonisation of the continent.
Unfortunately, the First Fleet is also important to the indigenous people of Australia, as it signifies the beginning of their displacement from their own tribal lands, and the resultant loss of aboriginal culture.
Were there any women on the First Fleet?
Yes. There were around 180 female convicts. It is not known how many of the remaining passengers were wives of marines, but records indicate there were 252 marines, wives and children.
What ship of the First Fleet was John Hudson transported on?
John Hudson was a nine year old transported on the ship called 'Friendship'
What plants did the first fleet bring?
Fruit trees which the First Fleet crew purchased at Rio de Janeiro and brought to Australia included apples, pears, figs, oranges and a grape vine.
No fruit trees were brought from England.
