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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
The first European settlement in Tasmania occurred primarily because of the failure of the first Victorian settlement on the southern coast of the Australian mainland.
The British Government instructed Lieutenant-Governor David Collins to establish a settlement at Sullivan Bay in Port Phillip (now in Victoria) in 1803. The settlement failed due to poor soil and inadequate water supply. Hearing of better land and timber in Van Diemen's Land, Collins moved most of the settlement across Bass Strait, and established Hobart. The city began as a penal colony at Risdon Cove on the Derwent River in late 1803 to offset British concerns over the presence of French explorers. These fears were not unfounded: the first Europeans to land on the island were members of the expedition of the French explorer Marion du Fresne.
The settlement became "official" on 16 February 1804. Collins originally named the settlement 'Sullivan Cove' after John Sullivan, Permanent Under-Secretary for the Colonies. The name Hobart Town was adopted by the settlement in June 1804, after Lord Hobart the Colonial Secretary. The colony of Van Diemen's Land was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales, with its own judicial establishment and Legislative Council, in December 1825. Hobart Town was proclaimed a city on 21 August 1842, and was renamed as Hobart in 1875.
What did Truganini do to make her famous?
Truganini was the last recorded full-blooded Tasmanian Aborigine. She was famous because she represented the devastation that white settlement had on Tasmania, wiping out not only native animals, but even an entire human race.
How did the first Australians get to Australia and why did the first Australians go there?
The first Australians were the indigenous Aborigines. they are believed to have crossed to Australia from Asia using the various land bridges that existed thousands of years ago.
Excluding the indigenous people of Australia, the first settlers in Australia were the convicts, officers and marines of the First Fleet ( a group of eleven ships). However, these people could not be said to be Australians, as they considered themselves British through and through. Whilst the continent received many visitors from other countries prior to British settlement, none of them stayed.
Among the British and other permanent settlers in Australia, the term Australian was not applied for decades. In the early years, those born in the country were called "currency lads and lasses". Australia as a country was not formed until 1901, so in effect, there were no Australian citizens until that time.
Who are the early settlers in the Caribbean?
The Ortoiroid people were the first human settlers of the Caribbean. They are believed to have developed in South America before moving to the West Indies.
Because of the stronge ocean waves caused by the moons gravitational poll the ocean has shaped the out side. Some geologicest think it was the flood witch proves God Lives. So the ocean shaped Australia.
What is the former name of Australia?
Australia was originally known as Terra Australis Incognita, a Latin term meaning "Unknown southern land".
After the Dutch visited the western coast in the 1600s, they named the western half of the continent "New Holland". When James Cook charted the eastern coast of Australia some 150 years after the Dutch had already landed in the west, he claimed the eastern half for England, giving it the name "New South Wales".
What kinds of homes did the settlers live in?
Settlers in different regions lived in various types of homes depending on the available resources. Common types of homes included log cabins, thatched cottages, adobe houses, and sod houses. These structures were often simple and built with local materials to provide shelter and protection from the elements.
When and by whom was Australia discovered?
There is no straightforward answer to this question.
Australian Aborigines made it to Australia anywhere between 6,000 and 50,000 years ago. No written records exist, so one can only speculate on when they first arrived.
The Asian people visited the northern coast regularly for hundreds of years before Europeans set foot on the continent, to collect sea-slugs (trepang), a valued delicacy in Asia.
It is believed that the Portuguese were the first to sight the Australian continent, but there are no records within Portugal itself to substantiate the claim. The source for this claim are the Dieppe Maps, which date between 1542 and 1587, and which were drawn up by a group of French cartographers using a Portuguese source. These maps name a large land mass believed to be the Australian continent as Java-la-Grande. There is some speculation that the maps, not being to scale, actually represent an exaggerated western Java, possibly even Vietnam.
Willem Jansz/Janszoon was a Dutchman who was seeking new trade routes and trade associates. Commanding the Duyfken, 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 he did not record Australia as being a separate, new continent.
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 in Shark Bay 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 yet a captain) charted the eastern coast of Australia and claimed it in the name of the British in 1770, calling it New South Wales. He charted the east coast between April and August of that year. For this reason, Cook is often wrongly credited with discovering Australia.
When did Europeans come to Australia?
The first Europeans we have evidence of were the Portuguese, whose maps of the 1520s were copied into maps we still have today.
When the Dutch usurped the Portuguese possessions in the East Indies a century later, they made regular landfalls in western Australia, and explored the northern and southern coasts.
The first settlement was in 1788 when a British military colony with convict labour was established in eastern Australia as one of a chain of military bases to protect the East India Company's trade: in Botany Bay's case, with China and with other subsidiary objectives.
Is it Edward Hargreaves or Hargraves?
The correct spelling is Edward Hargraves. He was an Australian gold prospector credited with sparking the Australian gold rush.
Many people have explored Australia during its known history. All of them cannot be listed, but here is a reasonably comprehensive list of the main explorers.
The Portuguese penetration to the east of the Indian Ocean culminated in their exploring the northern and eastern Australia in the 1520s. While no literary record remains due to the flooding of their archives in the 18th Century, illicit copies of their charts were incorporated in maps produced by the Dieppe mapmakers in th 1540s-1560s. One good representation of Australia was given to Henry VIII by Anne of Cleves as a wedding present.
Dutch seafarers came in contact with the continent, beginning with Willem Jansz/Janszoon, 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. In 1616, Dirk Hartog landed at Cape Inscription on 25 October 1616 where he left a pewter plate with an inscription recording his landing.
On 24 November 1642, Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania, originally calling it "Antony Van Diemen's Land" in honour of the High Magistrate, or Governor-General of Batavia.
The first Englishman to set foot on Australian soil was William Dampier. On 4 January 1688, his ship the 'Cygnet' was beached on the northwest coast of Australia, at King Sound near Buccaneer Archipelago on the north-west coast of Australia. While the ship was being repaired Dampier made notes on the fauna and flora he found there. He was unimpressed by the dry, barren landscape, the lack of water and what he described as the "miserablest people in the world" - the native population. His negative reports led to the delay of England's colonisation of what is now Australia.
It was not until 1770 that Captain James Cook reported positively on the green, fertile countryside of New South Wales, and England sought to colonise the previously unknown continent.
Following Cook's charting of the eastern coast in 1770 and the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, many more explorers sought to unravel the secrets of the continent: French explorers Marion du Fresne 1772, Bruno D'Entrecastaux 1792, Nicholas Baudin 1802-4, Jean-Claude de Freycinet 1818, were followed by others such as Matthew Flinders and George Bass in exploring the coastline. Bass was famous for proving that Van Diemen's land (now Tasmania) was from an island, whilst Flinders was famous for his two-year circumnavigation of the entire continent.
Captain Arthur Phillip, Governor of the first colony, explored extensively around the Sydney/Parramatta area, but was unable to breach the Blue Mountains.
Settlement did not extend beyond Sydney until 1813, when Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth climbed Mount York, at the western end of the Blue Mountains, from which they sighted the rich grasslands on the other side of the mountain barrier. George Evans continued on from Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth's expedition, finding the Macquarie River and surrounding fertile plains.
After this, there were a number of other explorers who filled in the gaps.
- Captain John Oxley and Allan Cunningham explored inland and northern New South Wales and southern Queensland (c. 1823).
- James Kelly explored Tasmania (1816).
- Hamilton Hume and William Hovell explored overland between Sydney and Port Phillip Bay (1824).
- Charles Sturt followed Murrumbidgee River to the Murray River, and on to the southern coast. He also determined that the Darling River flowed into the Murray, thereby discovering Australia's biggest inland river system (1829-30).
- Major Mitchell contributed much to the discovery of good land in Victoria, although he spent much time trying to dispute Sturt's theory that the Darling flowed into the Murray. He found excellent fertile land in western Victoria (1836). He also explored in southern Queensland.
- Paul Edmund de Strzelecki was the first to climb and name Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain (1840).
- Edward Eyre made numerous expeditions, exploring north of Adelaide, and later crossed the Nullarbor Plain from Streaky Bay to Albany (1839-41).
- Ludwig Leichhardt explored inland Queensland and up to the north coast, at Port Essington (1844-45).
- Edmund Kennedy explored the Queensland coast, tragically losing his life when almost within sight of the ship sent to meet him at the northern tip (1848).
- John MacDouall Stuart led a total of six expeditions into Australia's interior, with five of them being attempts to be the first to cross the continent from south to north, commencing from Adelaide. He succeeded on his fifth attempt, reaching the northern waters at Chambers Bay in July 1862.
- Burke and Wills led an unfortunate expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. While their expedition filled in gaps of knowledge, they also died during their attempt to return safely (1861).
- Ernest Giles made several expeditions in the Australian desert, through central and Western Australia (1872-1875).
- Peter Warburton undertook numerous smaller expeditions, but his goal was to complete the first crossing of the central Australian continent from east to west, a goal he achieved in 1873.
- The Forrest brothers of Western Australia explored much of the northwest regions in the 1870s.
What did the Eureka Stockade look like?
The Eureka Stockade was a ramshackle structure made of timber and corrugated iron that served as a makeshift fort during the Eureka Rebellion in 1854. It was surrounded by a makeshift barricade made of overturned carts and other materials. The stockade was the focal point of the rebellion where miners gathered to protest against unfair mining regulations imposed by colonial authorities.
Why did the British kill the aboriginals?
There were a number of reasons why the white British settlers had conflict with the indigenous people of Australia. Primarily, it was the feeling of white supremacy, the sense that they were superior, and that the Aborigines were mere savages, not really even considered people. The British were out to conquer the land, regardless of anyone or anything that stood in their way.
There were many cultural misunderstandings: the Aborigines were naturally a generous and sharing group of people, and they had no concept of ownership. When they were trying to "share" the british stock animals, this was seen as theft and, in a struggling colony, was an offence punishable by death as far as the white settlers were concerned.
Some groups of british aimed to decimate the aborignal population entirely, thereby being able to gain the land for themselves. Naturally, Aborigines reacted with some hostility to being forced off their own land, but their spears were no match for British guns.
What type of punishment was given to convicts?
Punishments of Australian convicts included:
- flogging, often with the cat o' nine tails
- loss and/or reduction of rations
- solitary confinement
- hard labour
What did the convict do on the ships?
The convict served his sentence on the ship as a form of punishment or transportation to a penal colony. They would often perform manual labor, such as cleaning the decks, cooking, or working in the ship's crew.
What challenges did the crew and convicts face during the first settlement?
Once the convicts, officers and marines of the First Fleet reached New South Wales, there were many challenges associated with establishing a colony in a new and unfamiliar land.
Captain Arthur Phillip, the first Governor, was a practical man who suggested that convicts with experience in farming, building and crafts be included in the First Fleet, but the British authorities rejected his proposal. Because of this, he faced many problems as he tried to establish the new colony.
One of the major problems was that British farming methods, seeds and implements were unsuitable for use in the different climate and soil. The farming implements broke easily in the tough soil of the colony. Many of the seeds had gone mouldy in the humidity or been eaten by rats and mice during the eight-month journey. Also, the convicts weren't prepared to work in the excessive Australian heat and humidity, often downing tools and flatly refusing to work, despite the threats of punishment.
As a result, the main problem was that the colony faced near-starvation in its first two years. The colonists were poorly equipped for the task of settling a new land with an unfamiliar climate. Starvation was averted when, in December 1790, twenty-five bushels of barley were successfully harvested. By the time the 3rd Fleet arrived, they brought enough provisions and more suitable equipment and seeds to help the colony to succeed agriculturally.
Phillip was also on the lookout for more land. He led several exploration parties in search of new land which could be settled and farmed. However, the further they explored, the more they encountered Aborigines. As the Europeans spread out, hostility between the two groups was inevitable.
The colony finally succeeded in developing a solid foundation, agriculturally and economically, thanks to the perseverance of Captain Arthur Phillip.
Why did the convicts settle in Australia?
Conditions in England in the 18th century were tough: the industrial revolution had made it harder for people to earn an honest wage as simpler tasks were replaced by machine labour. Unemployment rose, and consequently, so did crime, especially the theft of basic necessities such as food and clothing. The authorities elected to clamp down heavily on people for minor penalties, hoping to stem the tide of rising crime.
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. England had resorted to using old ships - hulks - to place the convicts at night, but they were extremely unhealthy and overcrowded. Also, the West Indies and Africa were unsuitable due to disease and climate, and India already crowded.
Following James Cook's voyage to the South Pacific in 1770, the previously uncharted continent of New Holland was recommended as a suitable site for colonisation. 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. The main recommendation came from botanist Sir Joseph Banks, whose influence helped push through legislation authorising the plan to send a colony of convicts and officers to New South Wales on 6 December 1784. Within two years, the formal decision was made to send a colonisation party of convicts, military and civilian personnel specifically to Botany Bay, New South Wales, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, who was appointed Governor-designate.
A colony which established Britain's claim on Australia would also help expand the British Empire and provide a physical presence in the south Pacific. This held both strategic and economic/trade advantages for England. Also, the presence of a colony would enable England to lay claim to Australia during a time when France was rapidly expanding its empire as well.
The First Fleet carried 775 convicts on board six transport ships, accompanied by officials, crew, marines and their families who together totalled another 645. Besides the convict transports, the First Fleet consisted of two naval escorts and three storeships. The First Fleet departed Portsmouth, England, in May 1787, and arrived in Australia on 18 January 1788. Botany Bay proved unsuitable, so the fleet moved north to Port Jackson, where Phillip raised the British flag on 26 January 1788.
Why was James Ruse the convict transported to Australia?
James Ruse was transported to Australia as a convict in 1788 for stealing items in England. He was one of the first convicts to be transported to help establish the new British colony in New South Wales. Ruse later became a successful farmer and is regarded as Australia's first settler to grow a successful crop of wheat.
Who are the people in charge of convicts?
Convicts are typically under the authority of prison wardens, correctional officers, and other staff employed by the corrections system. These professionals oversee the day-to-day operations of prisons and ensure that inmates are securely held and supervised.
What happened to the convicts when their sentence was over in Australia?
A sentence for a convict sent to Australia could be many years in length. Because of reasons such as good behaviour, some convicts were given a "ticket of leave". These individuals were still watched however, as some convicts had a tendency to reoffend. They were required to report in regularly to the authorities.
While on their ticket-of-leave, they were permitted to work for a living in a trade. After a further period of good behaviour, these convicts were given a "free pardon", meaning they could start their own trade, business, or take up land which may have been allocated to them and use it for farming or crops. Some even became Constables for the colony (for example John Smith).
Some of Australia's convicts became great pioneers in their field. Francis Greenway, for example, had trained as an architect prior to his sentence, and his work can be seen in some of the old, gracious buildings still standing in Sydney today. George Howe had a background in printing; he published Australia's first regular newspaper.
Convicts rarely, if ever, returned to England, as Australia held much better opportunities for them.
Why did poor living conditions in England lead to people committing crimes?
Conditions in England in the 18th century were tough: the Industrial Revolution had made it harder for people to earn an honest wage as simpler tasks were replaced by machine labour. A single machine, whether it be a sewing machine or a plough used in farming, could replace numerous people. As a result, unemployment rose, and people turned to crime to survive. The theft of basic necessities such as food and clothing was particularly common, and these crimes were committed by men, women and children equally.
What did a convicts house look like in Australia?
As the Convict was the lowest of the social pecking order, their accomodations and care were not of a great priority, yet as forced labour some modicum of consideration was given.
The more hardenned repeat offenders lived in leg irons and were worked in gangs of 25. This was made up of 6 groups of four with a supervisior, a convict as well. They would be shacklled to cross beams which were linked to a draw bar and to this bar the chain or dray was attached. These men replaced the beasts of burden (oxen) as there were more convicts than oxen.
The English had even less time for those political prisoners from Ireland and Scotland and to the road gangs many were assigned, even though they were not felons, yet had been exiled for the term of their natural lives.
The 'slab hut' was the standard for convicts. This was built to a standard, being, 18 feet long and 12 feet across, with a centre pole to hold the ridge, with walls 6 foot above ground. The slabs were hand cut from logs and are around 4 x 12 inches by 8 to 10 feet in length
Two huts would be assigned to a road gang, even though the design of the hut was meant for ten people sleeping on the floor. Six at one end and four at the other around the fireplace, the English jailers found it more effective to crowd 25 into space for 20.
They would be chained to the centre pole to prevent them from absconding overnight.
Imagine the conversations at night during winter between the political prisoners, talking of a world better for their kids than this one.
Their dream has become Australia.
What was the difference between the colonization of New Zealand and Australia?
Whilst Britain colonised both countries, the essential difference is that Australia was a convict settlement from the first day, whereas New Zealand was populated by free settlers, mainly whalers, sealers, and missionaries. New Zealand became a British colony in 1840 with the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi: after this, many more free settlers from Britain arrived in New Zealand. The difference between this arrangement and that with Australia was that free settlers were free to come, along with the First Fleet (had they wanted to), and certainly after that. Whereas Britain recognised the rights of the Maori people, and saw the need to establish a treaty with them before they colonised the country, they did not recognise the rights of the Australian Aborigines, and settled the country regardless.
What were the disadvantages of having convicts in Australia?
Some of the disadvantages of having convicts in Australia included negative impacts on Indigenous populations, spread of disease, strain on resources, and the development of a class system based on criminal history. Additionally, convicts faced harsh living conditions and limited opportunities for rehabilitation.
