The Birth of British Australia Flashcards
When was the ‘First Fleet’ route to Australia
May 1787 - Jan 1788 (250 days)
Name 3 original problems with Australia
- Huge distance from the UK
- “Criminal Class” of convicts
- Inhospitable lands
What did Lachlan Maquarie famously say about NSW
“I found NSW a gaol and left it a colony”
What did Lachlan M play a crucial role in doing?
Changing Australia from a Penal island to a Reformatory ground
Lachlan significanlty improved the death rate on the ships from 1 in 31 to what?
1 in 122
How did Lachlan reduce dependence on imported foods?
The erection of “Maquarie Towns”
- established along the fertile banks of Hawkesbury River
- Allowed for growth of own crops
Why was the removal of the New South Wales Corps so important ?
By 1809, NSW Corps could import rum so had completel political and economic control
- They were responisble for the mutiny so there was instability
- M dismantled the corps by sending majority to the Isle of Guernsey
Although Lachlan wanted to reform , there was no 3rd chance.
The Set up of both Norfolk Island and Port Arthur in Tasmania (two examples) allowed for what treatment of Prisoners?
Brutal.
Port Arthur in Tasmania, camp commander Charles O’Hara Both given a ‘free hand’ on law
When Norfolk Island reopened as Prison - John Giles Price - strapped meant to old iron bedsteads after they had been whipped to ensure wounds become infected
Lachlan’s relationship to the Indiginous people saw him viewed as what?
An ‘Enlightened Despot’
How does Maquarie attempt to bring Aboriginals into Western soceity
By attempting to civilise 26 of them - this fails tho and settlers now see more reason to exterminate them as indiginous people ‘reject’ civilisation
What was the ‘Native Institution’?
A place where forcibly removed Indiginous children were trying to be “civilised”
set up in 1814 by Gov Macquarie to educate Aboriginal childrne in the ‘European’ way.
When did Van Dieman’s Land first have settlers
1803 - set up as a penal colony
Until 1824, VDL was considered part of NSW
What Chnged?
VDL was administered as a Second Seperate State - because much stricter rules
What were two strategic values of retaining VDL?
Ensured Control of Bass Strait which reduced travel times to the UK
Enabled development of Whaling - big industry which took Blubber, Oil, fats and Balseen (for women’s corsets)
How many Aboriginals were there on VDL in 1803?
3000 - 4000
What did Gov Arthur declare in 1828 on VDL?
Martial Law agaisnt Aboriginals
Idea was to move Ab ppl to ‘Settled Districts’ - land laid out which would protect them and squash andy settler fears
What was a major issue with the Governor not having complete power in VDL
People did what they wanted - e.g.
Early years was starvation - ordinary ppl given guns to hunt but turned on Aboriginals - uncontrolled and unregulated unlike in NSW where Gov had all power
3 reasons for Aborigonals dying on VDL
1) Diseases took its toll - smallpox affects 50% of ab pop
2 Areas cleared for farms to produce wool - resulted in Aboriginals being hunted and poisoned
3) Settler violence unchecked by authorities
Indiginous people had been on VDL for 30000 years before white settlers came in 1803. After this, when did the last Tasmanian Aborigional person die?
1876
What was Lachlan M’s main view on NSW
To him, NSW was not just a land of punishment, but also a land of redemption - convict could be transformed into citizens
Give one example of a changed convict
- Richard Fitzgerald who had been transported at 15
- LM made RF superintendent of agriculture and stores
- became a pillar in society, building the local church ‘St Matthews’
By 1828, there were more free settlers in NSW than convcits.
Why was this?
Only around 1 in 14 ex-cons wanted to go back to Britian
What did Lachlan di that supported the term that he “favoured emancipists”
Invited 4 ex-cons over to dinner after birth of child
