Some First Fleeters’ and the jobs they did: Augustus Alt, Surveyor Thomas Arndell, Assistant Surgeon Henry Lidgbird Ball, Captain of Supply William Balmain, Assistant Surgeon, later principal Surgeon Lieutenant William Bradley, author of journal, water colourist Henry Brewer, clerk to Phillip, Provost Marshall, administrator Ralph Clark, 2nd Lieutenant , author of journal David Collins, Judge Advocate, author Dennis Considen, assistant surgeon Lieutenant William Continue Reading »
Parramatta
About 24 km west of Sydney NSW. Parramatta is the second oldest settlement in Australia being established in 1788, only nine months after Sydney. Captain Phillip would probably have made it his chief base if he had found it earlier, because its fertile soil was vital to the infant colony. The original name Rose Hill, survives in a local racecourse. Continue Reading »
Missing Cattle
Listed on the manifest of the First Fleet were two bulls and five cows. These creatures were to form the basis of our cattle industry. Unfortunately only six months after arrival the herd escaped into the bush and were lost. It was to be another eleven years before the original herd was found grazing quietly at a site called Cowpasture. By 1878 the first set-back had well and truly been overcome and cattle numbers throughout the Australasian colonies exceeded seven million. Continue Reading »
Ship Hire
Nine of the eleven vessels which formed the First Fleet were hired at a cost of 10 shillings per ton per month. The merchant vessels hired by the Government were: Alexander, Lady Penrhyn, Charlotte, Scarborough, Friendship, Prince of Wales, Fishburn, Golden Grove and Borrowdale. The two naval vessels were, of course, Sirius and Supply. Continue Reading »
First Fleet Fact Sheet
Down load the First Fleet Fact Sheet to find out when they left England and arrived Sydney Cove 26 January 1788. Click here to open: FIRST FLEET FACTS Continue Reading »
John Hudson
At nine years old, John Hudson a sometimes chimney sweeper, and the youngest First Fleet convict at the time of sentencing, was tried at the Old Bailey London on 10 December 1783, to seven years transportation for felony, but not for burglary. John’s crime was breaking and entering the dwelling house of William Holdsworth in East Smithfield, and stealing one linen shirt, value 10 shillings, five silk stockings, value 5 shillings, one pistol, value 5 shillings, and two aprons, value 2 Continue Reading »
26 January 1788
26 January 1788 A flagstaff was erected at Sydney Cove. Captain Arthur Phillip and his officers drank to the health of His Majesty and success of the new colony. Perhaps you can add some colour to the scene of these pioneering men. Download the Australia Day PDF1 to colour in here: Australia Day 1 Download the Australia Day PDF2 to colour in here: Australia Day 2 Continue Reading »
Scarborough
One of the First Fleet ships in Teneriffe. Is it the Scarborough, perhaps it could be! Perhaps you can add some colour to this exotic port. Download the PDF to colour in: Scarborough Continue Reading »
Word Search
First Fleet Word Search and Puzzle Download here: First Fleet Word Search and Puzzle Continue Reading »
Ships
The First Fleet Ships Find the ships, including the eleven First Fleet ships that are concealed in this puzzle. To find them you may advance vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Use the same letter twice, and go backwards as well as forwards. Download here: The First Fleet Ships Continue Reading »