Australian History: First Landing
In August 1786, the British government decided to start a convict settlement in New South Wales. This also allowed England to claim Australia and stop France or Spain from taking it. Arthur Phillip was chosen to lead the First Fleet of convicts to Botany Bay. There were eleven ships in the First Fleet with six of them being convict ship that had specially built prisoners quarters below the decks. Around 1500 men, women and children sailed in the First Fleet that left on 12 May 1787.
The First Fleet reached Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. Captain Phillip soon realized that the harbour was not as good as Banks and Matra had described it. The bay was shallow and ships were not protected from the storms and strong winds. Port Jackson was just a few kilometres further north. Cook had said that it was a good harbour and Phillip decided to see for himself. He later wrote:
“We got into Port Jackson in the afternoon and had the satisfaction of finding the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security.”
Phillip and his men explored the harbour for two days. They found a cove with good fresh water ‘in which the ships can anchor so close to the shore that at a very small expense quays may be made at which the largest ships may unload’. Phillip named it Sydney Cove in honour of Lord Sydney, a government official who had helped to arrange the voyage. Then Phillip returned to Botany Bay and ordered that the other ships sail north to Sydney Cove. On 26 January Phillip went ashore at Sydney Cove with a small group of marines and convicts.
First Fleet Ships - There were eleven ships in the First Fleet. They were all small ships that included two naval ships, six convict ships and three storeships for supplies.
Second Fleet Ships - The Lady Juliana was the first ship of the Second Fleet to arrive tat Sydney Cove. By the end of June 1790, four more ships had arrived.
More Jails - When Cook returned home, England was going through some tough times. The country life was changing. Small, poor farmers were losing their land.
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