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The British discovery of Australia occurred in three stages: first, the 1644 expedition that contributed to knowledge of Australia's northern coast; second, Lieutenant James Cook's charting of the east coast in 1770; and third, the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Botany Bay in January 1788, which established a penal colony and marked the beginning of British settlement in Australia. This date later became Australia's national day, Australia Day, though many Aboriginal Australians refer to it as Invasion Day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of British settlement in Australia | 26 January 1788 |
| Name of the fleet that arrived in Australia | First Fleet |
| Number of ships in the fleet | 11 |
| Number of people on the fleet | 1,530 |
| Number of convicts on the fleet | 736 |
| Number of children of convicts on the fleet | 17 |
| Number of marines on the fleet | 211 |
| Number of wives of marines on the fleet | 27 |
| Number of children of marines on the fleet | 14 |
| Number of officers on the fleet | 300 |
| Commander of the fleet | Captain Arthur Phillip |
| Date of departure of the fleet | 13 May 1787 |
| Date Australia achieved independent Sovereign Nation status | After World War I |
| Date Australia Day became an official holiday | 26 January 1818 |
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What You'll Learn
Captain James Cook claims the land for Britain in 1770
Captain James Cook, a junior naval officer with strong cartography and mathematics skills, led three voyages on behalf of the British Admiralty. The first voyage of the HMS Endeavour, which left England in August 1768, culminated in the discovery of southeastern Australia on 20 April 1770.
During this voyage, Cook landed several times, notably at Botany Bay and Possession Island in the north. On 22 August 1770, Cook claimed the entire eastern coastline he had surveyed as British territory from the summit of Possession Island. He renamed York Cape (now Cape York) and sailed west through the Torres Strait, dispelling the notion that New Holland and New Guinea were part of the same land mass.
Cook's voyage was jointly sponsored by the Royal Navy and the Royal Society. The stated goal was to observe the 1769 transit of Venus from Tahiti. Additional objectives, outlined in sealed orders, included searching for the postulated Terra Australis Incognita and claiming lands for Britain.
Cook's voyage had a significant impact on the settlement and exploration of Australia. Botany Bay, where Cook landed, was later promoted as a suitable location for a British colonial outpost. The First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 to establish a penal colony, marking the beginning of British settlement in Australia.
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The First Fleet arrives in 1788
The First Fleet of 11 ships, commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived at Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. Botany Bay was the first port of call for the Fleet as it searched for a suitable location to establish a penal colony. Botany Bay did not meet the expectations set by the explorer Captain James Cook, and Governor Phillip rejected it as the site for the new colony. The Fleet then moved to Port Jackson, to the north, arriving there on 26 January 1788.
The voyage of over 24,000 kilometres (15,000 miles) took 252 days and carried over 1,400 convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officials, and free settlers. The First Fleet marked the beginning of convict transportation to Australia, and the settlement at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, was the first permanent European colony on the Australian continent.
The arrival of the First Fleet had a significant impact on the Aboriginal people in the Sydney area, particularly the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land. Conflict between the settlers and the Eora people began soon after the colony was established, and thousands of Eora people died as a result of European diseases, such as smallpox, and violent conflict. The settlement also disrupted their cultures and resulted in the dispossession of their traditional lands.
The colony of New South Wales, as it was known, became Britain's first settlement in Australia and marked the beginning of European colonisation of the continent. The territory of New South Wales claimed by Britain included all of Australia eastward of the meridian of 135° East. The date of the fleet's arrival, 26 January, later became Australia's national day, Australia Day. However, many Aboriginal Australians refer to this date as "Invasion Day".
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Botany Bay becomes a penal colony
The British settlement of Australia began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. The fleet carried over a thousand settlers, including 778 convicts (192 women and 586 men), marines, and officers. Botany Bay, located in present-day Sydney, was the fleet's initial destination, and it marked the beginning of the establishment of a penal colony.
The decision to establish a colony in Australia was influenced by two primary factors. Firstly, the American Revolution resulted in the loss of Britain's North American colonies, which had previously accepted transported felons. With no alternative, Britain was compelled to find new territories to serve as penal colonies. Secondly, there was a strategic need to establish a base in the Pacific to counter French expansion in the region.
Botany Bay, located on the eastern side of Australia, was chosen as the site for the first penal colony. The fleet's arrival at Botany Bay on January 26, 1788, marked the founding of the colony of New South Wales. However, the fleet soon relocated to the more suitable Port Jackson, where a settlement was established at Sydney Cove, known by the Indigenous name Warrane. This date, January 26, later became Australia's national day, known as Australia Day.
The early years of the colony were challenging. The settlers faced difficulties with poor soil, an unfamiliar climate, and a lack of knowledge about farming. Captain Arthur Phillip, the colony's leader, persevered through these hardships and appointed convicts to positions of responsibility. The colony survived, but it was on the verge of starvation for several years.
The British government's decision to establish a penal colony in Australia had far-reaching consequences. It marked the beginning of white colonization, which led to the dispossession of Indigenous people from their land and the disruption of their cultures. The Aboriginal population declined due to introduced diseases, violent conflict, and the loss of their traditional lands. While some Aboriginal people resisted, others sought accommodation with the settlers, establishing communities on small portions of their ancestral lands.
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Aboriginal Australians face disease and violence
The British settlement of Australia began on January 26, 1788, when Captain Arthur Phillip guided a fleet of 11 ships to the colony of New South Wales. This date eventually became Australia's national day, Australia Day, though many Aboriginal Australians refer to it as "Invasion Day".
Aboriginal Australians have indeed faced disease and violence, both historically and in the present day. The arrival of British settlers in 1788 brought with it a decline in the Aboriginal population, as well as the disruption of their cultures due to introduced diseases, violent conflict, and the dispossession of their traditional lands.
Even today, Aboriginal Australians face serious health issues. In 2018, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people lost 239,942 years due to premature death or living with disease or injury, equating to around 289 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for every 1,000 First Nations people. The rate of disease burden among First Nations people was more than double that of non-Indigenous Australians in 2018. The leading causes of this disease burden include mental and substance use disorders, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Colonisation has also had a significant impact on the mental health of Aboriginal Australians. The violent history of colonisation has resulted in ongoing issues such as systemic and institutional racism, discrimination, and the removal of children from their families. Aboriginal Australians are also facing higher incarceration rates, particularly affecting children and young people, who are often held in inhumane conditions.
There have been some efforts to address these issues. In 2008, the Australian government launched the Closing the Gap framework, aiming to reduce the disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by working in partnership with community-controlled organisations. Additionally, there is a move towards a 'strengths-based approach' in healthcare, which focuses on the strengths, culture, and partnerships within Aboriginal communities to improve health outcomes while respecting their resilience.
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Australia achieves independence after World War I
On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guided 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, marking the beginning of British settlement in Australia. This date later became Australia's national day, Australia Day, though many Aboriginal Australians refer to it as "Invasion Day".
In the century that followed, the British established other colonies on the continent, and European explorers ventured into its interior. This period saw a decline in the Aboriginal population and the disruption of their cultures due to introduced diseases, violent conflict, and dispossession of their traditional lands.
Australia achieved independent sovereign nation status and full sovereignty from the UK after World War I, under the Statute of Westminster. This formalized the Balfour Declaration of 1926, which defined the Dominions of the British Empire as "autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations."
The Statute of Westminster was approved by the United Kingdom in December 1931, but it did not come into effect until it was adopted by the Australian government. On October 9, 1942, Australia’s Statute of Westminster Adoption Act became law, achieving independence for the nation. This act was made effective retroactively to September 3, 1939, the date of the commencement of World War II.
The process of Australia's independence from the UK was progressive. On January 1, 1901, the British Parliament passed legislation allowing the six Australian colonies to govern their own affairs as part of the Commonwealth of Australia, a dominion of the British Empire. This marked the federation of the colonies after a decade of planning, consultation, and voting. The Federal Capital Territory (later renamed the Australian Capital Territory) was formed in 1911 as the future site of the capital, Canberra. Melbourne served as the temporary seat of government from 1901 until Canberra's construction was completed in 1927.
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Frequently asked questions
Britain first found Australia in 1770, when Lieutenant James Cook charted the east coast of the continent and claimed it for Great Britain.
The British colonization of Australia began in 1788, with the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. The fleet carried over a thousand settlers, including 778 convicts.
The traditional view is that Britain sought to relieve the pressure on its prisons, which had been intensified by the loss of its American colonies. However, other factors such as the need for a base in the Pacific to counter French expansion may also have played a role.
The British colonization of Australia had a devastating impact on the Aboriginal population, leading to a decline in their numbers and the disruption of their cultures due to introduced diseases, violent conflict, and dispossession of their traditional lands.
Australia achieved independent sovereign nation status after World War I, under the Statute of Westminster. However, Australia did not ratify the Statute of Westminster until 1942, and the remaining links between the British Parliament and the Australian states were officially severed in 1986.
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