Birth of British Australia 1788-1829: How did the first British penal colony in Australia develop as a settlement? Flashcards
When did the First Fleet arrive in Australia?
18 January 1788
Where did First Fleet arrive in Australia?
Botany Bay
Who commanded the First Fleet and what was his background?
Arthur Phillip, retired naval officer
How long did it take the First Fleet to arrive in Australia?
252 days
How many ships were in the First Fleet of each type: convict transport; storage; navy
convict transport: 6
storage: 3
navy: 2
What two things made Botany Bay unsuitable for settlement?
soil infertile
no fresh water
Where did the First Fleet settle instead of Botany Bay?
Sydney Cove
Give two reasons why Britain needed to establish a penal colony.
- prisons full - having to use frigates on Thames to house prisoners
- to enable alternative to hanging so juries less likely to give not guilty verdict
How much did it cost to fit out the First Fleet?
£84k
Give two reasons why British government chose Australia.
- It would prevent any French claim to the territory.
- Positive feedback from Cook’s expedition, eg about use of Norfolk Island to grow flax and provide pine for ships
Give two reasons why Britain’s prisons were full.
- American War of Independence meant couldn’t send felons there any more
- Urbanisation and slum poverty increased level of crime.
What proportion of the First Fleet convicts had been convicted of minor theft?
two-thirds
Where did food come from for the initial settlement?
- Mostly supplies brought with them - including eating all the livestock
- Some fresh fish or birds they killed
- some traded with Aboriginal people
Was a flax industry established on Norfolk Island?
no as it proved to be the wrong type of flax
Which two groups were allocated plots of land by Philipps?
- convicts once they had served their terms
- any serving officers who decided to stay
By 1792, how many acres of land were under public and private cultivation?
public: 1,000 acres
private: 516 acres
When did the Second Fleet arrive?
June 1790
Where was a second colony established in 1790?
Norfolk Island
Why did having a second colony help?
reduced number of people needing feeding in Sydney whilst those on Norfolk Island initially had plentiful supply of mutton bird to eat
How was food shared from April 1790?
equal rations to everyone
What were the two positive results of equal food rations for all?
- everyone had just enough to survive
- no riots over unfair distribution
Where did Philipp decide to relocate the Sydney Cove colony to and why?
Parramatta (renamed Rose Hill), as appeared more fertile
What happened to the ship Sirius?
wrecked on Norfolk Island on way to Canton for more supplies
What happened to the ship Guardian?
was bringing supplies to Australia when it sank near the Cape
What ship of the Second Fleet brought 222 female convicts and arrived first?
Lady Juliana
How long was it after the Lady Juliana arrived that the Justinian arrived, and what was it carrying?
two weeks, carrying supplies, eg livestock and crops
How successful was the Second Fleet voyage compared to that of the First Fleet?
less successful - at least a quarter of the convicts died on voyage and more died soon after landing
What were the four main causes of deaths on the Second Fleet?
- starvation
- scurvy
- poor sanitation
- louse-borne diseases
When did Phillip finish being governor?
1792
By 1792, how many people lived on Norfolk Island?
> 1,000
By 1792, how many people lived in either Sydney or Paramatta?
> 3,000
When did the first Irish prisoners reach the colony?
1791
Define Emancipist.
a convict who had served his term or been given full or conditional pardon and was now a settler
Define Currency.
free child born to convict
Define Sterling.
freeborn children of settlers
Define Exclusive.
free settlers and their descendants
