How did the first penal colony in Australia develop into a settlement? Flashcards
When did Captain cook go on his exploration of the South seas?
1768-1771
What did he name the land he found?
Botany bay
Why did they claim Botany Bay?
After the American war of independence Britain could no longer send prisoners over and prisons were full in Britain
Where did Britain attempt to send prisoners?
Das voltas bay (Nambia) but failed
How would they keep the new colony self sufficent?
Pay costs of transportation and the convicts
Who was Joseph Banks?
A botanist on the first fleet
What did Joseph Banks say about Botany bay?
That it was sufficient to grow flax and for sail making
What did William Pitt the Younger decide?
Made the decision to start a colony in NSW
How much did it cost to start a penal colony?
£70,000
How many ships arrived with the first fleet?
11 ships
How many days did it take for the first fleet to reach NSW?
250 days
How many people were onboard of the first fleet?
1,420
How many people died onboard of the first fleet?
48
When did the first fleet set sail?
18 January 1788
Who was the captain of the first fleet?
Arthur Phillip
When did settlement on Norfolk island begin?
1788
What was on Norfolk island?
Flax and timber source
Why was Norfolk island expensive to maintain?
Because it was isolated
How many mutton birds were easily killed over 3 months?
200,000
How did the people ration mutton birds?
Convicts who destroyed egg or burrows were punished
When did mutton birds go extinct?
1800
What was the bay surrounding Norfolk island nicknamed?
Slaughter bay
When was establishment reduced in Norfolk island?
1805
When did Norfolk island lay silent till?
1825
When was Arthur Phillip governor?
1788-1792
What was Arthur Phillip known for?
First fleet and establishment
Allocated work based on skills
Tough but fair
Why was Botany bay not suitable?
No fresh water source
Soil was not suitable to grow crops
Traded with aboriginals for kangaroo meat
In how many months did all the livestock get used up?
6 months
How was food and clothing distributed?
It was the property of the government and they distributed it
How did they control land?
Appointed a surveyor over allocation of plots of land
Why was there no real internal market
Everything belonged to the government
Reliant on government supplies
Development of private land holding didn’t ease this
How did they control food stores?
Rations were shared equally
Resented by higher up offices and marines
Why was convict labour low?
Due to lack of food source
Where did the settlers move to?
16 miles away in Paramatta
Why was Paramatta suitable?
Fertile
Land grants to former convicts
Reduced reliance on government supplies
When did the second fleet arrive?
3 June 1790
How many ships accompanied the second fleet?
6 ships
How many convicts were on the second fleet?
1006
What % died onboard?
25%
What % died within 6 weeks?
40%
Why had the second fleet failed?
It was taken over by a private firm: Camden, Calvert and King
What did the second fleet bring with them?
Brought livestock and crops
When did the third fleet arrive?
1791
How many ships accompanied the third fleet?
11 ships
How many convicts were on the third fleet?
2067
How many convicts on the third fleet died?
182
What majority of people made up the third fleet?
Irish majority
Where did the third fleet pick up supplies?
From Calcutta, they got rice
What was the royal commission of affairs?
To deal with public response to losses
What did the royal commission of affairs achieve?
No prosecutions
What were Irish prisoners mainly going to NSW for?
Being political dissidents from the struggle for freedom from Britain
How did some Irish prisoners escape?
By sea
They either got lost or landed in an unknown coastline
When did William Blight become governor?
1806
Why was William Bligh sent to NSW
To take over from NSW corp (rum years)
What did William Bligh want to do?
Control use of alcohol as barter
Restrict trade
End corruption
What was the NSW corp?
Military force set up after arrival of the first fleet
Who was John Macarthur?
Formed NSW corp officer
When was John Macarthur arrested?
1808
What did John conflict with Bligh about?
Over grazing land for Macarthur’s sheep
What was the rum rebellion?
Major Johnston commander and Macarthur deposed Bligh and took control
How did Blight try to limit rum trade?
Through forbidding bartering and introducing regulations securing control over ports
What happened to Bligh?
He was exiled
When did Blight return?
1817
What did Macaarthur do after Bligh’s exile?
Established the first commercial vineyard
Agricultural company
Bank of Australia
What made Macarthur rich?
Export of wool
What did Macquarie do in terms of currency?
Created sterling silver coins in 1812
What was the currency called?
The Holey dollar
How did they dismantle NSW corp?
Sent some to garrison duty in gurnsey
Who were the soldiers controlled by now?
Macquarie
How did Macquarie treat convicts?
Greeted new convicts
Harsh discipline
Punishments ruled out after hearing at a magistrate
Promise or land and independence
How did Macquarie cut down on alcohol consumption?
Public houses reduced and were closed on Sundays
Religion would help reform the convicts
How were women treated?
Rape was common, only escaped if they were “protected” by seamen or a marine
What roles did women play?
Assigned to ex convicts, officers and soldiers as domestics
What happened if women got pregnant?
Were sent to the government and abandoned
How did Macqurie improve lives for women?
They were able to inherit property and businesses if their husbands died
What became unacceptable to do in terms of women?
To pick women of the boat and return them to the government when they became pregnant
What were convicts issued with?
Early pardons and tickets of leave
Who were able to apply for convict labour?
Emancipates
What were some of the reactions to land being given to convicts?
Exclusives resented and wished to see a larger amount of land given to them to develop sheep farming
Why did they develop up the Hawkesbury river?
Fertile and source for oysters
What were some of the names of the different Macquarie towns?
Wilberforce, Richmond, Windsor and Pitt town
When was the Appin massacre?
17 April 1816
Why was there an attack on aborginals?
It was in response to an attack on farms and farmers
Who were the local aboriginal people called?
Darug people
What did each town have?
A church, a school and a inn
How did the Macquarie towns help the colony?
Helped cushion it through economic depression, droughts, floods by providing income and employment
What was the rum hospital?
A hospital in Sydney developed at no cost by awarding the licence for trade in liquor to the builders
What was the convict architecture called?
Francis Greenway
Where was the first female factory set up?
Paramatta
What was the British response to Macquarie’s developments?
Wanted him to cut costs
Needed money for Napoleonic wars
How many convicts were working for the government in 1821?
4001
