Topic 2: The birth of British Australia, 1788-1829;
Introduction;
18 January 1788: First Fleet sailed into Botany Bay.
British convicts under command of Arthur Phillip.
5,000 miles and 252 days.
No ships lost and only 69/1400 deaths.
o Convicts/seamen/marines/small number of civil officials.
Discovered Botany Bay lacked both water and fertile soil.
Sailed out again on 26 January to Port Jackson, landing at Sydney Cove.
Timeline;
1770 22 August: Cook claims New South Wales for the British as Terra Nulis (Nobody's
Land).
1176 The American War of Independence disrupts transportation of criminals to
America.
1788 18 January: First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay after a passage of 252 days at sea.
1789 Smallpox breaks out among Aboriginal population with catastrophic results.
1790 Governor Phillip dispatches 300 convicts to Norfolk Island.
1791 Whaling begins in colony on the William and Ann and the Britannia of the First Fleet.
James Ruse is granted land at Rose Hill (Parramatta) as a reward for growing the
first crop of wheat in the colony.
1796 John Macarthur introduces merino sheep to Australia.
1803 A small military outpost is established in Van Dieman's Land to prevent any
settlement by the French.
1808 26 January: Rum Rebellion where Governor Bligh is removed from office by a
mutiny of the New South Wales Corps and free settlers.
1810 1 January: Lachlan Macquarie becomes governor of New South Wales.
1813 Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth are the first Europeans to cross the Blue
Mountains.
1823 New South Wales Act establishes a legislative council in the colony.
1828 November: Martial law is declared against the aboriginal people in Tasmania by
Governor Arthur.
1829 August: First British settlers arrive in Western Australia.
Introduction;
18 January 1788: First Fleet sailed into Botany Bay.
British convicts under command of Arthur Phillip.
5,000 miles and 252 days.
No ships lost and only 69/1400 deaths.
o Convicts/seamen/marines/small number of civil officials.
Discovered Botany Bay lacked both water and fertile soil.
Sailed out again on 26 January to Port Jackson, landing at Sydney Cove.
Timeline;
1770 22 August: Cook claims New South Wales for the British as Terra Nulis (Nobody's
Land).
1176 The American War of Independence disrupts transportation of criminals to
America.
1788 18 January: First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay after a passage of 252 days at sea.
1789 Smallpox breaks out among Aboriginal population with catastrophic results.
1790 Governor Phillip dispatches 300 convicts to Norfolk Island.
1791 Whaling begins in colony on the William and Ann and the Britannia of the First Fleet.
James Ruse is granted land at Rose Hill (Parramatta) as a reward for growing the
first crop of wheat in the colony.
1796 John Macarthur introduces merino sheep to Australia.
1803 A small military outpost is established in Van Dieman's Land to prevent any
settlement by the French.
1808 26 January: Rum Rebellion where Governor Bligh is removed from office by a
mutiny of the New South Wales Corps and free settlers.
1810 1 January: Lachlan Macquarie becomes governor of New South Wales.
1813 Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth are the first Europeans to cross the Blue
Mountains.
1823 New South Wales Act establishes a legislative council in the colony.
1828 November: Martial law is declared against the aboriginal people in Tasmania by
Governor Arthur.
1829 August: First British settlers arrive in Western Australia.
