The Birth of British Australia (1788-1829)
Introduction
18th Jan 1788 – First fleet sailed into Botany Bay – led by Arthur Phillip
o 5000-mile journey which lasted 6 months to serve sentences in a new
continent
1,400 people – 69 died and 0/11 ships were lost
When discovered Botany Bay – had no fresh water or fertile land
o Set sail again to Sydney Cove which was more suitable for settlement
Phillip knew no aid was to arrive for 2 years - they would have to find food by
hunting or starve
Convicts on the fleet knew even if sentence was 7-10 years – they would never
return to the UK
Why had the British chosen to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay?
Cook charted the E. Coast of Australia in 1771 – described by him as a fertile land
and one that was empty
o Saw indigenous population as not having claim to the land as they weren’t
using it
1775 – start of ARW meant that convicts could no longer be sent to America
o UK needed a new destination to send its criminals
Joseph Banks – on Cook’s expedition – reported to Parliament that Botany Bay
would be suitable to set up a Penal(Prison) colony
o £84k to fit the fleet – not cheap but money worth spending
British setting up settlement at Australia would prevent French territorial claim to
Australia and expansion in Pacific
Another reason – 900 miles east of Sydney – Norfolk Island contained tall pine trees
and flax plants – critical to build ships
By late 1780s, prisons in Britain were filled to bursting point – new dumping ground
needed
Growing urbanisation and slum poverty meant crime was increasing
Reform to system was necessary
Who were the First Settlers
775/1420 were convicts – 300 guards
o Rest were civil officers with wives and children
2/3 were transported for minor theft – average age under 30
Marines, their wives and children, seamen and their families made up around 600–
refused to do any work apart from military work
Convicts were relied on to build the colony from bottom up
o Building shelter etc.
Initial settlement
Botany Bay – upon arrival seemed bizarre as lacked fresh water and unsuitable for
cultivation
Settlers quickly moved to Sydney Cove
Introduction
18th Jan 1788 – First fleet sailed into Botany Bay – led by Arthur Phillip
o 5000-mile journey which lasted 6 months to serve sentences in a new
continent
1,400 people – 69 died and 0/11 ships were lost
When discovered Botany Bay – had no fresh water or fertile land
o Set sail again to Sydney Cove which was more suitable for settlement
Phillip knew no aid was to arrive for 2 years - they would have to find food by
hunting or starve
Convicts on the fleet knew even if sentence was 7-10 years – they would never
return to the UK
Why had the British chosen to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay?
Cook charted the E. Coast of Australia in 1771 – described by him as a fertile land
and one that was empty
o Saw indigenous population as not having claim to the land as they weren’t
using it
1775 – start of ARW meant that convicts could no longer be sent to America
o UK needed a new destination to send its criminals
Joseph Banks – on Cook’s expedition – reported to Parliament that Botany Bay
would be suitable to set up a Penal(Prison) colony
o £84k to fit the fleet – not cheap but money worth spending
British setting up settlement at Australia would prevent French territorial claim to
Australia and expansion in Pacific
Another reason – 900 miles east of Sydney – Norfolk Island contained tall pine trees
and flax plants – critical to build ships
By late 1780s, prisons in Britain were filled to bursting point – new dumping ground
needed
Growing urbanisation and slum poverty meant crime was increasing
Reform to system was necessary
Who were the First Settlers
775/1420 were convicts – 300 guards
o Rest were civil officers with wives and children
2/3 were transported for minor theft – average age under 30
Marines, their wives and children, seamen and their families made up around 600–
refused to do any work apart from military work
Convicts were relied on to build the colony from bottom up
o Building shelter etc.
Initial settlement
Botany Bay – upon arrival seemed bizarre as lacked fresh water and unsuitable for
cultivation
Settlers quickly moved to Sydney Cove
