After Botany Bay, Where Did The First Fleet Go?

Captain Arthur Phillip was appointed Commodore of the First Fleet in September 1786, which was to transport convicts and soldiers to establish a colony at Botany Bay. The fleet set sail from Portsmouth, England, on May 13, 1787, and arrived at Botany Bay on January 18, 1788. However, upon arrival, they found the country unsuitable due to scarce water and windy anchorage.

The First Fleet, carrying between 750 and 780 convicts, crew, soldiers, and family members, landed at Sydney Cove after an eight-month voyage. Governor Arthur Phillip rejected Botany Bay, choosing Port Jackson instead as the site for the new colony. The fleet made stops in Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, and Cape Town before arriving in Botany Bay on January 20, 1788.

After leaving Portsmouth, England, the First Fleet sailed to Australia, making stops in Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, and Cape Town. They arrived in Botany Bay on January 20, 1788, and were at sea for over 252 days. Captain Arthur Phillip’s search for a more suitable site led him to Port Jackson. The rest of the fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour on January 26, and the fleet returned to Botany Bay on January 23, when Phillip ordered them to move to Sydney Cove the next morning.

After establishing the Sydney colony, the British established additional convict settlements at Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) and Moreton Bay. Students use images and written sources to investigate the journey of the First Fleet and the experiences of people on board.


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Why is there no 1st fleet?

The First, Third, and Seventh Fleets constituted the Pacific Fleet, initially designated as the “Central Pacific Force.” In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the US Navy underwent a period of restructuring and downsizing, a consequence of the cessation of hostilities.

Where is the 1st fleet located?
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Where is the 1st fleet located?

On May 13, 1787, a group of over 1, 400 people from Portsmouth, England, set sail from Portsmouth to Botany Bay, Australia, a newly discovered bay. Despite a remarkable feat of planning and navigation, nearly all the voyagers survived and arrived in Botany Bay several months later. The “First Fleet” consisted of military and government officials, sailors, cooks, masons, and other workers who hoped to establish new lives in the new colony.

The settlement at Botany Bay was intended to be a penal colony, with convicts from both British and American, French, and African backgrounds. Most convicts were sentenced to seven years’ “transportation”.

How many people died on the First Fleet?
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How many people died on the First Fleet?

The First Fleet of convict ships was a relatively successful operation, resulting in 48 deaths from almost 1, 500 people. However, the Second and Third Fleets were not as successful, with most convict ships having a low death rate by the standards of the time. The growth of the British navy and empire brought improvements in maritime transport technologies, and the government introduced strict regulations to eliminate disasters like the Second Fleet.

The First Fleet’s efforts to ensure prisoner health were relatively successful, resulting in a relatively low death rate. However, the Second Fleet’s disaster was a result of the government’s strict regulations.

Where did they go after Botany Bay?
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Where did they go after Botany Bay?

On January 24, the French exploratory expedition of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, was seen outside Botany Bay. Captain John Hunter surveyed the area in 1789, trading for grain. The area’s good supply of fresh water led to population expansion in the 19th century. The western shore of Botany Bay remained in its virgin state for almost fifty years after the initial settlement of Sydney Town. Land access was difficult until a route from the west was established via Canterbury, known as Illawarra Road.

The land near the Cooks River crossing was cleared and settled early in the colony’s infancy. Sydney Airport, Australia’s busiest airport, sits on the northwestern side of Botany Bay, with some of its runways going into the bay. After World War II, the mouth of the Cooks River was moved two kilometers west to make way for the airport extension. Land was reclaimed from the bay to extend its first north-south runway and build a second parallel runway.

Why did the First Fleet stop at Cape Town?
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Why did the First Fleet stop at Cape Town?

The First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, carried food supplies from England for both their journey and settlement in New South Wales. The fleet’s final stop was Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope (now South Africa), where they replenished their water and food stores, and purchased additional supplies for the settlement’s future. Arthur Phillip requested that the fleet be supplied with enough food to last everyone for two years before departure.

The food unloaded in March 1788, recorded in the Lady Penrhyn’s log book, could have come from England or been purchased along the way. The food items mentioned are not comprehensive and may have been acquired during the journey.

Did the First Fleet sink?
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Did the First Fleet sink?

On 19 March 1790, HMS Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet, was wrecked on the coral reef off Slaughter Bay. The ship had led a fleet of eleven ships from England in 1787, carrying the people who would start a new Nation on the other side of the world. The Sirius was a vitally important ship to the settlements’ struggle for survival in their new, isolated home and the only real means of contact with the outside world. Her loss was devastating for the new settlements at Sydney Cove and Norfolk Island.

The Sirius’ story is divided into two parts: her loss and the modern-day recovery of the shipwreck material. At the time of its wrecking, the Sirius and HMS Supply were on a desperate mission to provide food and supplies to the starving communities in Sydney Cove and Norfolk Island. Captain John Hunter, master of the Sirius, had taken her on a voyage to Cape Town for supplies.

Did any of the First Fleet sink?
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Did any of the First Fleet sink?

On 19 March 1790, HMS Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet, was wrecked on the coral reef off Slaughter Bay. The ship had led a fleet of eleven ships from England in 1787, carrying the people who would start a new Nation on the other side of the world. The Sirius was a vitally important ship to the settlements’ struggle for survival in their new, isolated home and the only real means of contact with the outside world. Her loss was devastating for the new settlements at Sydney Cove and Norfolk Island.

The Sirius’ story is divided into two parts: her loss and the modern-day recovery of the shipwreck material. At the time of its wrecking, the Sirius and HMS Supply were on a desperate mission to provide food and supplies to the starving communities in Sydney Cove and Norfolk Island. Captain John Hunter, master of the Sirius, had taken her on a voyage to Cape Town for supplies.

Where did the First Fleet move to?

The First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay on January 18, 1788, but Governor Arthur Phillip selected Port Jackson as the preferred destination. The fleet transported a total of between 750 and 780 convicts, 550 crew members, soldiers, and family members, arriving on January 26, 1788. The precise number of convicts transported is uncertain, but it was the inaugural contingent to arrive in Australia.

Why did the First Fleet stop in Rio de Janeiro?

The First Fleet, a British naval force, departed from Portsmouth and docked in the Canary Islands off Africa. They then crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they acquired supplies. They then sailed back to Cape Town, South Africa, where they acquired more food and livestock. The main journey was across the Indian Ocean, traveling 24, 000 kilometers. Despite Botany Bay’s shallow waters, lack of freshwater, and unfertilized land, the First Fleet discovered a beautiful harbor named after the British Home Secretary, Lord Sydney. This discovery is celebrated as Australia Day, Australia’s national holiday.

Why didn t they stay in Botany Bay?
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Why didn t they stay in Botany Bay?

Governor Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay on 18 January 1788, and the Lady Penrhyn arrived two days later with the second part of the fleet. However, none of the convicts left the ship due to poor soil and limited fresh water. Governor Phillip decided to find a suitable place to settle, which he named Sydney Cove after an English official. On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet, including the Lady Penrhyn, entered Port Jackson.

Two paintings, one by William Bradley, depict the fleet’s arrival through the heads of Port Jackson and the other by another 1788 artist, showcasing the natural environment. These paintings provided a unique view of the area, which was unfamiliar to everyone on board the ships. To learn how to reuse this content, please check the copyright status in the catalogue record.

Where did the First Fleet ship stop?
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Where did the First Fleet ship stop?

The Australia First Fleet, which set sail from Portsmouth, England, on its voyage to Botany Bay, spent 252 days at sea. The fleet made stops at Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, and Cape Town before reaching its destination in mid-January 1788. The voyage spanned a period of over eight months.


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After Botany Bay, Where Did The First Fleet Go?
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