ABOUT THE FIRST FLEET
Prelude
When England lost the American Colonies in the War of Independence, gaols became so overcrowded that the British Government used de-commissioned Royal Navy vessels - called Hulks - moored along the River Thames as floating prisons to house convicted convicts. Many were detained in dreadful conditions for years, until public agitation forced the British Government to address the crisis. Lord Sydney announced that several gaols and places for the confinement of felons in this kingdom being in so crowded state … His Majesty has thought it advisable to fix upon Botany Bay to clear England of its felons. The Government commissioned Arthur Phillip of the Royal Navy as Captain-General of the eleven ships that comprised the First Fleet and as First Governor-in-chief of a new colony at New South Wales.
The First Fleet 1788
The voyage of the First Fleet from Portsmouth to the Great South Land ranks as one of the greatest achievements in maritime history. Captain Arthur Phillip steered the Fleet through rough seas and, with unmatched skill and leadership, followed a route that in part had never been sailed before, and called without adverse incidence at foreign ports for essential supplies.
According to records of the Fellowship of First Fleeters, the ships carried 619 officials, marines (including officers), crew with wives and children of the marines - the free persons; 543 male and 189 female convicts, 22 convict children (11 boys, 11 girls), totalling 1373 persons. There are no surviving crew musters for the 6 transports and 3 stores ships. Thus it is estimated that approximately 110 more seamen would be needed to man these ships as they left England. The number to disembark at Sydney Cover was 1483 – allowing for the 48 deaths and 28 births that occurred during the voyage, this totals 1503 persons overall.
The Government issued each convict with one year’s clothing: two jackets, four woollen drawers, one hat, three shirts, four pairs of woollen stockings, three frocks, three trousers, three pairs of shoes and soap to wash. Most convicts arrived in reasonable health due to Phillip’s meticulous care for adequate rations, fresh food whenever possible and access to the deck for exercise and fresh air. Many were town dwellers and had never seen the sea before so the voyage was beyond their imagination and limited geographical knowledge.
All 11 ships safely dropped anchor at Botany Bay within a few days of each other, having sailed a route that in total had never been traversed before. Because it was high summer there were no green meadows as described by Captain Cook but rather dry grass and meagre water supplies – an unsuitable environment to establish a colony. Phillip explored north to Port Jackson and decided upon Sydney Cove because of its fine harbour protected from stormy weather, and its permanent water supply. There a new colony for nearly 1500 people began in an alien, unexplored country on the other side of the globe from their known world in Great Britain.
Governor Phillip guided the settlement through two years of near starvation and despair – no follow-up ships arrived from Great Britain with fresh supplies for 2½ years. By cutting rations drastically and encouraging farming on more arable land at Rose Hill, Phillip just managed to salvage a desperate situation. Phillip was a far-sighted governor, who anticipated that New South Wales would need a civil administration and a system for emancipating the convicts. Phillip instructed that “kindness and amity” be shown to the Aborigines, even when hostilities surfaced between the colonists and the local tribes.
Over time the First Fleet pioneers developed the ability to cope with an entirely different life to what had been left behind in England, willing or not adapting to a new and sometimes harsh environment. Most became good citizens, worked hard and prospered on land that had been granted on their emancipation.
Relics
Prelude
When England lost the American Colonies in the War of Independence, gaols became so overcrowded that the British Government used de-commissioned Royal Navy vessels - called Hulks - moored along the River Thames as floating prisons to house convicted convicts. Many were detained in dreadful conditions for years, until public agitation forced the British Government to address the crisis. Lord Sydney announced that several gaols and places for the confinement of felons in this kingdom being in so crowded state … His Majesty has thought it advisable to fix upon Botany Bay to clear England of its felons. The Government commissioned Arthur Phillip of the Royal Navy as Captain-General of the eleven ships that comprised the First Fleet and as First Governor-in-chief of a new colony at New South Wales.
The First Fleet 1788
The voyage of the First Fleet from Portsmouth to the Great South Land ranks as one of the greatest achievements in maritime history. Captain Arthur Phillip steered the Fleet through rough seas and, with unmatched skill and leadership, followed a route that in part had never been sailed before, and called without adverse incidence at foreign ports for essential supplies.
According to records of the Fellowship of First Fleeters, the ships carried 619 officials, marines (including officers), crew with wives and children of the marines - the free persons; 543 male and 189 female convicts, 22 convict children (11 boys, 11 girls), totalling 1373 persons. There are no surviving crew musters for the 6 transports and 3 stores ships. Thus it is estimated that approximately 110 more seamen would be needed to man these ships as they left England. The number to disembark at Sydney Cover was 1483 – allowing for the 48 deaths and 28 births that occurred during the voyage, this totals 1503 persons overall.
The Government issued each convict with one year’s clothing: two jackets, four woollen drawers, one hat, three shirts, four pairs of woollen stockings, three frocks, three trousers, three pairs of shoes and soap to wash. Most convicts arrived in reasonable health due to Phillip’s meticulous care for adequate rations, fresh food whenever possible and access to the deck for exercise and fresh air. Many were town dwellers and had never seen the sea before so the voyage was beyond their imagination and limited geographical knowledge.
All 11 ships safely dropped anchor at Botany Bay within a few days of each other, having sailed a route that in total had never been traversed before. Because it was high summer there were no green meadows as described by Captain Cook but rather dry grass and meagre water supplies – an unsuitable environment to establish a colony. Phillip explored north to Port Jackson and decided upon Sydney Cove because of its fine harbour protected from stormy weather, and its permanent water supply. There a new colony for nearly 1500 people began in an alien, unexplored country on the other side of the globe from their known world in Great Britain.
Governor Phillip guided the settlement through two years of near starvation and despair – no follow-up ships arrived from Great Britain with fresh supplies for 2½ years. By cutting rations drastically and encouraging farming on more arable land at Rose Hill, Phillip just managed to salvage a desperate situation. Phillip was a far-sighted governor, who anticipated that New South Wales would need a civil administration and a system for emancipating the convicts. Phillip instructed that “kindness and amity” be shown to the Aborigines, even when hostilities surfaced between the colonists and the local tribes.
Over time the First Fleet pioneers developed the ability to cope with an entirely different life to what had been left behind in England, willing or not adapting to a new and sometimes harsh environment. Most became good citizens, worked hard and prospered on land that had been granted on their emancipation.
Relics
- Rev. Richard Johnson’s Bible and Prayer Book, held at St. Phillips Church, Sydney, are used on the Sunday closest to 3rd February, to commemorate the first church service held at Sydney Cove in 1788 by Reverend Richard Johnson. Preaching to the congregation under a large tree from the large leather-bound King James Version, Johnson's text came from Psalm 116, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
- HMS Sirius, the First Fleet’s flagship, was wrecked off Norfolk Island in March 1790. The cast iron bow anchors were salvaged from the wreck site in 1905. Located at Macquarie Square in Sydney, you can see Governor Macquarie’s milestone obelisk in the background. The cannon was landed shortly after foundation of the colony in 1788.
Sources:
- National Museum Canberra, Phillip of Australia by MB Eldershaw,
- Where Honour Guides the Prow by Elisabeth Curtis and Gillian Doyle
- Descriptions of Ships of the First Fleet (not linked): www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au
Note: Once on Ships sub-menu, click on any ship photo for a list of passengers and some biographies.
All images are from the internet.
Top images: (L): Fleet leaving Portsmouth Harbour, from the internet
(R): At Sydney Cove: https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/history-5-first.html
The three images immediately above - (L) At sea; (C) Foundation of Australia at Sydney Cove, by Algernon Talmage NSWSL; (R): Sydney Cove - housing is being erected and the settlement is taking place. Taken from William Bradley's drawing 1788. SLSNW
© Arthur Phillip Chapter of Fellowship of First Fleeters 2023 -
- National Museum Canberra, Phillip of Australia by MB Eldershaw,
- Where Honour Guides the Prow by Elisabeth Curtis and Gillian Doyle
- Descriptions of Ships of the First Fleet (not linked): www.fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au
Note: Once on Ships sub-menu, click on any ship photo for a list of passengers and some biographies.
All images are from the internet.
Top images: (L): Fleet leaving Portsmouth Harbour, from the internet
(R): At Sydney Cove: https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/history-5-first.html
The three images immediately above - (L) At sea; (C) Foundation of Australia at Sydney Cove, by Algernon Talmage NSWSL; (R): Sydney Cove - housing is being erected and the settlement is taking place. Taken from William Bradley's drawing 1788. SLSNW
© Arthur Phillip Chapter of Fellowship of First Fleeters 2023 -