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The human history of Australia dates back 50,000 to 65,000 years, with the arrival of the first ancestors of Aboriginal Australians. However, the discussion of free settlers in Australia typically refers to the period of British colonisation, which began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson. While the First Fleet carried over 700 convicts, it also brought hundreds of free settlers, mostly soldiers and their families. The first group of people who could be considered free settlers, in that they made their own decision to migrate to the colony, arrived aboard the Bellona in early 1793.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First free settlers | Arrived aboard the Bellona in early 1793 |
| First Fleet | Arrived in Australia in 1788 carrying more than 700 convicts |
| Colony | New South Wales |
| Governor | Lachlan Macquarie |
| Year of transition from penal colony to civil society | 1810 |
| Number of immigrants from the UK from 1821 to 1850 | 200,000 |
| Year of the end of the Napoleonic Wars | 1815 |
| Number of convicts who arrived in New South Wales from 1821 to 1840 | 55,000 |
| Number of convicts who arrived in Van Diemen's Land from 1821 to 1840 | 60,000 |
| Year when free settlers and the locally born exceeded the convict population of New South Wales | 1830 |
| Year when the main settlement of Melbourne was established | 1837 |
| Year when the colony of Victoria separated from New South Wales | 1851 |
| Year when the first convict-free and privatised colony in Australia was established | 1829 |
| Year when the British colonial period of Australia's history started | 1788 |
| Year when the modern nation of Australia came into existence | 1901 |
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What You'll Learn
The first free settlers arrived in 1793
The history of Australia as a British colony began in 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, the land of the Eora people. This fleet carried over 700 convicts to start a new penal settlement in Sydney, which became known as the colony of New South Wales. While this was the first fleet, hundreds of free people were also brought to the colony on these and subsequent ships, mostly soldiers and their families.
However, the first group of people considered free settlers, meaning those who chose to migrate to the colony of their own volition, arrived aboard the Bellona in early 1793. These free settlers typically paid their own way to Australia and were thus often quite prosperous. They received assistance from the British government, which was keen to stabilise the remote colony and make it self-sufficient. The British government also offered free land to settlers on the condition that it would be used productively. This appealed to many people in Britain who were facing unemployment and poverty due to the Industrial Revolution.
Life was challenging for these early settlers in Australia. They struggled to find fertile land, and the hot and dry climate made farming difficult. The unfamiliar seasons, plants, and animals were also obstacles they had to navigate. Starvation was a constant concern during the colony's first few years, and all settlers, including children, had to contribute to prevent the colony from failing.
Over time, conditions improved as settlers expanded inland from the coast, discovering more arable land for farming and vast tracts for raising livestock. Most of the early free settlers were farmers who developed the land granted to them by the government with the help of convict labour. They worked to clear the land, build fences, and grow crops in the unfamiliar environment, learning from their successes and failures.
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Life was hard for early settlers
The first free settlers in Australia arrived in early 1793 aboard the Bellona. However, life was hard for most of Australia's early settlers. The colonists of New South Wales struggled to find fertile land, and the hot, dry climate made farming difficult. The unfamiliar seasons, plants, and animals also made it hard to grow crops. Starvation was a constant concern during the colony's first few years, and all settlers—men, women, and children—had to work hard to keep the colony from failing.
The first free settlers were typically quite prosperous and could pay their way to Australia. To encourage less wealthy people to settle in Australia, the British colonial government began to pay the transportation costs for many migrants in the early 1800s. The government also provided free land and agricultural tools on the condition that the land be used productively. This offer appealed to people suffering from unemployment and poverty in Britain due to the Industrial Revolution.
Most of the early free settlers were farmers. They had to clear the often thickly wooded land and build fences around it. They also had to learn how to grow crops in the unfamiliar environment. The children of most free settlers had to work hard, doing chores such as fetching water, washing dishes, helping with laundry, and gathering wood. They also did farm work, such as feeding hens, gathering eggs, milking cows, shearing sheep, and harvesting crops.
Conditions improved in the early 1800s as settlers expanded inland from the coast, opening up more fertile lands for farming and vast tracts for raising livestock. By 1820, British settlement was largely confined to a 100-kilometer radius around Sydney and the central plain of Van Diemen's Land. From 1816 onwards, penal transportation to Australia increased, and the number of free settlers grew steadily. Between 1821 and 1840, 55,000 convicts arrived in New South Wales, and 60,000 in Van Diemen's Land. However, by 1830, free settlers and the locally born exceeded the convict population in New South Wales.
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Free settlers outnumbered convicts by 1830
The First Fleet arrived in Australia in 1788, carrying more than 700 convicts to start a new penal settlement in Sydney. Additional convict ships arrived in 1790 and 1791, but these early fleets also brought hundreds of free settlers, mostly soldiers and their families. The first people to be considered free settlers—that is, people who chose to migrate to the colony—arrived aboard the Bellona in early 1793. Thomas Rose and his family settled on land that they called Liberty Plains, which is now in the suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales.
Although free settlers continued to arrive in New South Wales in the years that followed, they were outnumbered by convicts for the first few decades. The first free settlers paid their own way to Australia, meaning that they were typically quite prosperous. To encourage free settlement among the less wealthy, the British colonial government began to pay the transportation costs for many migrants in the early 1800s. It also gave them free land on the condition that it be used for a productive purpose. The offer appealed to people who were suffering from unemployment and poverty in Britain as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The government also provided the settlers with free agricultural tools and convict labour to help them establish farms.
Life was very hard for most of Australia's early settlers. The colonists of New South Wales struggled to find fertile land, and the hot, dry climate made farming difficult. The seasons were different from Britain's, and most of the plants and animals were unfamiliar. Starvation was a constant concern during the colony's first few years. All of the settlers—men, women, and children—had to contribute to keep the colony from failing. Conditions improved in the early 1800s as settlers expanded inland from the coast, opening up more fertile lands for farming as well as vast tracts for raising livestock. Most of the early free settlers were farmers. They developed the land that the government granted them with the help of convicts assigned to work for them.
By 1830, free settlers and the locally born exceeded the convict population of New South Wales. From 1821 to 1840, 55,000 convicts arrived in New South Wales, but during the same period, 60,000 free settlers arrived in Van Diemen's Land. The number of free settlers grew steadily after the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, when the transportation of convicts increased rapidly. From 1831, the colonies replaced land grants with land sales by auction at a fixed minimum price per acre, with the proceeds being used to fund the assisted migration of workers.
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The British government encouraged free settlement
The British government also provided settlers with free agricultural tools and convict labour to help them establish farms. The use of convict labour was a significant incentive for free settlers, as it provided them with a source of cheap or free labour to assist in clearing land, building infrastructure, and farming. The availability of convict labour also allowed free settlers to focus on developing their own skills and businesses, contributing to the growth of the colony's economy.
Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who served as the Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821, played a crucial role in encouraging free settlement. He implemented policies that promoted social equality between emancipists (former convicts) and free settlers, recognising the importance of treating all colonists fairly. Macquarie also facilitated the transition of New South Wales from a penal colony to a budding civil society by establishing key institutions such as a bank, a currency system, and a hospital. He also commissioned extensive public works, including the construction of roads, wharves, churches, and public buildings, creating a more attractive and developed environment for prospective free settlers.
The British government's encouragement of free settlement in Australia had a significant impact on the demographics of the colony. Initially, convicts outnumbered free settlers. However, by 1830, the number of free settlers and locally born individuals exceeded the convict population in New South Wales. From 1821 to 1850, Australia attracted 200,000 immigrants from the United Kingdom, contributing to the growth and diversification of the colony's population.
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Free settlers played a role in the military
The First Fleet arrived in Australia in 1788, carrying over 700 convicts to start a penal settlement in Sydney. Additional convict ships arrived in 1790 and 1791, along with hundreds of free settlers, mostly soldiers and their families. However, the first group of people considered free settlers—those who chose to migrate to the colony of their own volition—arrived aboard the Bellona in early 1793.
Free settlers played a significant role in the military in Australia, particularly during the early colonial years. The early fleets that brought free settlers to Australia included a substantial number of soldiers and their families. These soldiers contributed to the establishment and defence of the colony, working closely with the British government to maintain stability and promote self-sufficiency.
As the colony expanded, free settlers continued to play a crucial role in the military. In 1826, the governor of New South Wales, Ralph Darling, dispatched a military garrison led by Major Edmund Lockyer to King George Sound. This garrison successfully prevented the French from establishing a settlement in Western Australia, and in 1827, Lockyer formally annexed the western third of the continent as a British colony.
The Swan River Colony, established in Western Australia in 1829, was the first convict-free and privatised colony in Australia. This colony was founded as a free settlement, demonstrating the evolving nature of colonisation in Australia and the role of free settlers in shaping it.
During the First World War, thousands of returning soldiers took advantage of state-based soldier settlement schemes. These schemes provided land for soldiers to establish farms and build communities. While some of these settlements faced challenges, they contributed to social stability and economic productivity in the post-war era.
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Frequently asked questions
The first free settlers arrived in Australia in 1788 aboard the First Fleet, which carried over 700 convicts and hundreds of free settlers, mostly soldiers and their families. However, the first group of people to be considered free settlers, who made their own decision to migrate to the colony, arrived aboard the Bellona in early 1793.
Life was very hard for most of Australia's early settlers. The colonists of New South Wales struggled to find fertile land, and the hot, dry climate made farming difficult. Starvation was a constant concern during the colony's first few years, and all settlers, including children, had to contribute to keep the colony from failing. Conditions improved in the early 1800s as settlers expanded inland, opening up more fertile lands for farming and livestock.
The British colonial government began to pay the transportation costs for many migrants in the early 1800s to encourage free settlement among the less wealthy. The government also provided free land, agricultural tools, and convict labour to help settlers establish farms. This offer appealed to people suffering from unemployment and poverty in Britain due to the Industrial Revolution.
