Australia’s role as a penal colony from 1788

Question 1

What date did Cook’s expedition claim Newfoundland, what did they report favourably of, and why was Botany Bay chosen?

Answer 1

22nd August 1770, reported favourably of its emptiness and fertile land, Botany Bay was chosen due to the possibility for flax growth.

Question 2

Why did Pitt’s government want to establish a penal colony?

Answer 2

prisoners were becoming increasingly overcrowded. And, after the American War of Independence, prisoners could no longer be shipped to America.

Question 3

How much did it cost to fit out the fleet?

Answer 3

£84,000

Question 4

What date did the first fleet set sail from Portsmouth, and how many ships did this include?

Answer 4

13th May 1787 - 6 convict ships - 775 convicts, 3 supply ships and 2 navy ships

Question 5

How many miles was the journey, and how many days did it take?

Answer 5

15,000 miles, it took 252 day, and they stopped in Rio de Janerio for supplies.

Question 6

What date did the fleet arrive in Botany Bay?

Answer 6

18th January 1788

Question 7

Records suggest how many convicts arrived?

Answer 7

732 - including 543 men, 189 women and 22 children

Question 8

Why was the intital settlement as Botany Bay so bad?

Answer 8

• Sydney was a challening environment
• within 6 months livestock that was brought with the Fleet had either
  been eaten or disappeared
• settlement relied on supplies that they had brought with them and by trading w the Aboriginal pepople who had superior hunting skills

Question 9

After realising Botany Bay wasn’t suitable, what date did the fleet sail to Port Jackson, and where did they land?

Answer 9

26th January 1788, they landed in Sydney Cove.

Question 10

What years was Arthur Phillip governor, and what is notable about him?

Answer 10

1788-92, he was responsible for the success of the First Fleet and the survival of the colony. He gave the first land grants to ex-convicts and had a non-confrontational policy with the Aboriginals.

Question 11

What years was Willian Bligh governor, and what was notable about him?

Answer 11

1806-09, he suffered 2 mutinies and was removed by the New South Wales Corps. However, there was little punishment for the perpetrators because London recognised Bligh’s errors - he’d attempted to curve their privileges.

Question 12

What years was Thomas Brisbane governor, and what was notable about him?

Answer 12

1821-25, he reversed the paternalistic approach of Macquarie, limiting early pardons and land grants.

Question 13

Many feared the colony would have the same fate as the settlement where? What happened?

Answer 13

In Raonoke, Virginia, 1587-90 (-when relief arrived) all 107 settlers had perished.

Question 14

Why did Phillip often have to rely on his own judgement?

Answer 14

communication to London took long time

Question 15

Because convicts weren’t necessarily the best team workers, how did Phillip try to ensure a cooperative system?

Answer 15

By trying to allocate the convicts with jobs based on their skills.

Question 16

What was the building/housing like by the time Phillip returned to England (in 1792).

Answer 16

All were in proper housing, and there was a brick-built governors mansion.

Question 17

Phillip’s preparations for the Fleet were a success, how is this evident?

Answer 17

In the ships log records of the survival rate - only 3% of all on the outward journey died. And the arrival of the Second Fleet it also, arguably, a testament to the success of the first.

Question 18

When had the Home Secretary wanted the Fleet to set sail, but what did Phillip insist on?

Answer 18

The Home Secretary had wanted the fleet to set sail in December 1786, but Phillip insisted on 6 months to prepare. Without the extra 6 months, the fleet might have failed.

Question 19

In 1790, what did Phillip do, and what happened eventually?

Answer 19

He sent 183 convicts, 28 children and 81 marines to establish a second colony in Norfolk Island. This meant there’d be less people to feed, so rations would be stretched less. However in 1807 the colony was forced to evacuate.

Question 20

What date did Phillip make rations equal, and what did he hope this would ensure?

Answer 20

1st April 1790, equalising rations meant that marines would no longer get more, thus ensuring no riots about the matter and that there’d be enough to last until the arrival of the Second Fleet.

Question 21

Phillip decided to settle the colony 16 miles away, where? Why did he do this?

Answer 21

Parramatta (Rose Hill), because it had more fertile land and land available for grants.

Question 22

In what year was the first land grant received, and by who?

Answer 22

1791, James Ruse (who’d been a farmer before his conviction and transportation) was given the first land grant of 30 acres, where he successfully grew wheat and other crops.

Question 23

What date did the Second Fleet arrive, what was it called, and how many female convicts did it carry?

Answer 23

3rd June 1790, the Lady Juliana arrived, carrying 222 female convicts. At least 1/4 of those on the outward journey had died.

Question 24

What year was the Rum Rebellion, and what happened?

Answer 24

1808, the New South Wales Corps took over from Bligh and ran the colony.

Question 25

What years were the Rum Years, and what did this mean?

Answer 25

1792-1808, the New South Wales Corps dominated the colony controlling ports and paying alcohol merchants their wages. Because silver money wasn’t introduced until 1812 and rum was used as currency the New South Wales Corps, therefore, effectively dominated the economy.

Question 26

After the Rum Rebellion, who was dispatched from London?

Answer 26

Macquarie