Austria's Historical Population: Origins And Settlement

The history of Australia begins with the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson on the lands of the Eora on 26 January 1788, marking the establishment of the penal colony of New South Wales as part of the British Empire. The colony included all of Australia eastward of the meridian of 135° East, reflecting the line of division between the claims of Spain and Portugal established in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.

The decision to establish a colony in Australia was made by Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, for two reasons: the ending of transportation of criminals to North America following the American Revolution, and the need for a base in the Pacific to counter French expansion. The colony was initially planned to be a self-sufficient penal colony based on subsistence agriculture.

The first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, was given executive and legislative powers to establish courts, military forces, fight enemies, give out land grants, and regulate the economy. Phillip named the settlement after the Home Secretary, Lord Sydney. The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney.

The first years of settlement were nearly disastrous. Cursed with poor soil, an unfamiliar climate, and workers who were ignorant of farming, Phillip had great difficulty keeping the men alive. The colony was on the verge of outright starvation for several years.

By 1820, British settlement was largely confined to a 100-kilometre radius around Sydney and to the central plain of Van Diemen's Land. From 1816, penal transportation to Australia increased rapidly, and the number of free settlers grew steadily. Van Diemen's Land became a separate colony in 1825, and free settlements were established at the Swan River Colony in Western Australia (1829), the Province of South Australia (1836), and in the Port Philip District (1836).

The grazing of cattle and sheep expanded inland, leading to increasing conflict with Aboriginal people on their traditional lands. The growing population of free settlers, former convicts, and Australian-born currency lads and lasses led to public demands for representative government. Penal transportation to New South Wales ended in 1840, and a semi-elected Legislative Council was established in 1842.

British settlement led to a decline in the Aboriginal population and the disruption of their cultures due to introduced diseases, violent conflict, and dispossession of their traditional lands. Aboriginal resistance to British encroachment on their land often led to reprisals from settlers, including massacres of Aboriginal people. Many Aboriginal people, however, sought an accommodation with the settlers and established viable communities, often on small areas of their traditional lands, where many aspects of their cultures were maintained.

The first British settlement in Australia was established in 1788

The territory of New South Wales claimed by Britain included all of Australia eastward of the meridian of 135° East. This included more than half of mainland Australia. The claim also included "all the Islands adjacent in the Pacific" between the latitudes of Cape York and the southern tip of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania).

The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney. Sydney Cove offered a fresh water supply and a safe harbour, which Phillip described as being, 'with out exception the finest Harbour in the World [...] Here a Thousand Sail of the Line may ride in the most perfect Security'.

The first years of settlement were nearly disastrous. Cursed with poor soil, an unfamiliar climate and workers who were ignorant of farming, Phillip had great difficulty keeping the men alive. The colony was on the verge of outright starvation for several years, and the marines sent to keep order were not up to the task. Phillip, who proved to be a tough but fair-minded leader, persevered by appointing convicts to positions of responsibility and oversight. Floggings and hangings were commonplace, but so was egalitarianism. As Phillip said before leaving England: “In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slaves”.

Though Phillip returned to England in 1792, the colony became prosperous by the turn of the 19th century. Feeling a new sense of patriotism, the men began to rally around January 26 as their founding day.

In 1818, January 26 became an official holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of British settlement in Australia. As Australia became a sovereign nation, it became the national holiday known as Australia Day. Many Aboriginal Australians call it "Invasion Day."

The British settlement was initially planned as a penal colony

The British settlement of Australia, initially planned as a penal colony, began on January 26, 1788, when Captain Arthur Phillip guided a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. The British government had appointed Phillip captain of the HMS Sirius in October 1786, commissioning him to establish an agricultural work camp in the mysterious and distant land for British convicts.

Phillip's fleet included a small contingent of Marines and other officers, and more than 700 convicts out of a 1,000-strong party. The voyage lasted eight months, claiming the lives of about 30 men. The first years of settlement were challenging, with poor soil, an unfamiliar climate, and workers ignorant of farming. The colony was on the verge of starvation for several years, and the marines sent to maintain order were inadequate.

Phillip proved to be a tough but fair-minded leader, appointing convicts to positions of responsibility. Floggings and hangings were common, but so was egalitarianism. Before leaving England, Phillip declared, "In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slaves." Despite the initial hardships, the colony became prosperous by the turn of the 19th century, and the men began to celebrate January 26 as their founding day.

The British settlement of Australia as a penal colony had far-reaching consequences, marking the start of the dispossession of Indigenous Australians from their land as white colonisation spread across the continent.

The first governor of New South Wales was Arthur Phillip

Phillip arrived at Botany Bay in 1788 and found the site unsuitable. He then searched for a more habitable site for a settlement, which he found in Port Jackson – the site of Sydney, Australia, today. Phillip was a far-sighted governor who soon realised that New South Wales would need a civil administration and a system for emancipating convicts. He believed that everyone in the colony was a British citizen and was protected by the law as such, therefore the indigenous peoples had the same rights as everyone under Phillip's command. Eventually, cultural differences between the two groups of people led to conflict.

Phillip faced immense problems with labour, discipline, and supply. His plan to bring skilled tradesmen on the First Fleet's voyage had been rejected, and he was both poorly funded and outfitted. Nonetheless, he persevered by appointing convicts to positions of responsibility and oversight. Floggings and hangings were commonplace, but so was egalitarianism. As Phillip said before leaving England: “In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slaves.”

Phillip left the colony to return to Britain in 1792. By the time he sailed home, the colony was taking shape, with official land grants, systematic farming, and a water supply in place. He had planned to return to Australia, but medical advisors recommended he resign from the governorship.

The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney

The Colony of New South Wales was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney. This marked the official commencement of the British colony.

The Colony of New South Wales was a British colony from 1788 to 1901, when it became a state of the Commonwealth of Australia. The colony was established with the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip in January 1788. The fleet consisted of more than a thousand settlers, including 778 convicts (192 women and 586 men).

The first British settlement in Australia was founded as a penal colony. The fleet had set sail on 13 May 1787, and Captain Arthur Phillip assumed the role of governor of the settlement upon arrival. On 18 January 1788, the first ship of the First Fleet, HMS Supply, with Phillip aboard, reached Botany Bay. However, Botany Bay was found to be unsuitable, and Phillip led the exploration of Port Jackson, reaching Sydney Cove on the night of 25 January 1788.

On 26 January, the Union Jack was raised, and possession of the land was taken formally in the name of King George III. The next day, sailors from Sirius, a party of marines, and a number of male convicts went ashore to clear the ground for a camp. The female convicts came ashore on 6 February 1788. On 7 February, the convicts, marines, and others were gathered by the Governor for the reading of the proclamation of New South Wales and a long reading of the rights of the convicts and others.

Governor Phillip was vested with complete authority over the inhabitants of the colony. He intended to establish harmonious relations with the local Aboriginal people and try to reform and discipline the convicts of the colony. Early efforts at agriculture were challenging, and supplies from overseas were scarce. Between 1788 and 1792, about 3,546 male and 766 female convicts were landed at Sydney. The condition of healthy convicts also deteriorated due to hard labour and poor food. From 1791, however, the more regular arrival of ships and the beginnings of trade lessened the feeling of isolation and improved supplies.

The colony included all of Australia eastward of the meridian of 135° East

The colony of New South Wales was established with the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip in January 1788. The territory of New South Wales claimed by Britain included all of Australia eastward of the meridian of 135° East. This included more than half of mainland Australia. The claim also included "all the Islands adjacent in the Pacific" between the latitudes of Cape York and the southern tip of Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania).

The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney. Sydney Cove offered a fresh water supply and a safe harbour, which Phillip described as being, 'with out exception the finest Harbour in the World [...] Here a Thousand Sail of the Line may ride in the most perfect Security'.

The British government withdrew the extensive territorial claim over the South Pacific in 1817, passing an act specifying that Tahiti, New Zealand and other islands of the South Pacific were not within His Majesty's dominions. However, it is unclear whether the claim ever extended to the current islands of New Zealand.

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