The Birth of Australia 1788 new booklet v2

The Birth of British Australia 1788-1829

Key Questions

• How did the first British penal colony in Australia develop as a settlement?

• What was the impact of British settlement on the Aboriginal people in Tasmania and New South Wales (1788-1829)?

• What was the extent and nature of colonial control in Australia in the years 1803-1829?

Key Developments

Governors of New South Wales (1788-1829)

• Captain Arthur Phillip, RN: 26 Jan 1788 - 10 Dec 1792First governor; focused on establishing a functional society in harsh conditions.

• Captain John Hunter, RN: 11 Sept 1795 - 27 Sept 1800Worked on improving relations with Aborigines and managing supplies.

• Captain Philip Gidley King, RN: 28 Sept 1800 - 12 Aug 1806Encouraged agricultural development to create a self-sustaining colony.

• Captain William Bligh, RN: 13 Aug 1806 - 26 Jan 1808His tenure marked by conflict with settlers and administration.

• Major-General Lachlan Macquarie: 1 Jan 1810 - 1 Dec 1821Instituted major reforms, including social and infrastructure improvements.

• Major-General Sir Thomas Brisbane: 1 Dec 1821 - 1 Dec 1825Focused on education and scientific exploration.

• Lt-Gen. Ralph Darling: 19 Dec 1825 - 22 Oct 1831His leadership saw the consolidation of colonial authority and responses to growing anti-colonial sentiments.

The First Fleet

• Date: 18 January 1788

• Composition: 11 ships loaded with around 730 convicts, accompanied by marines, seamen, and officials; included the Sirius and Supply.

• Journey Duration: 252 days sailing from Portsmouth to Botany Bay.

• Outcome: Miraculously, only 69 deaths occurred during the voyage, indicative of strong leadership.

• Landing: Initial landing at Botany Bay faced challenges, leading to the move to Sydney Cove due to a scarcity of fresh water and insufficient arable land, marking the formal establishment of the penal colony.

Founding of the Penal Colony

• Reasons for Establishment: In the aftermath of the American War of Independence, Britain sought new solutions for over 80,000 prisoners incarcerated in overcrowded jails. The expansive, unpopulated territory of eastern Australia, deemed suitable after Captain Cook's exploration, was considered an ideal place for a penal colony.

• Dilemma: Prior solutions to transport convicts to America were rendered invalid, prompting a search for new locations, with serious overcrowding in British prisons necessitating immediate action.

Leadership and Conditions

• Governor Phillip’s Role: His leadership emphasized survival, establishing societal structure, and developing relations with Indigenous peoples. He cultivated a system of governance that combined military discipline with attempts to form peaceful relations with the Aboriginal communities.

• Early Difficulties: The settlement faced daunting challenges: there was a pressing lack of skilled labor and resources for maintaining order led to harsh punishments. Reliance on government supplies from Britain was critical but inconsistent, creating desperation for self-sufficient cultivation, leading to trials in farming practices.

Challenges Faced

• Insufficient Supplies: Early settlers faced extreme shortages; they relied heavily on what they could carry from Britain and what they could hunt or gather locally.

• Poor Equipment: Settlers did not possess adequate agricultural tools, forcing convicts to work under grueling conditions, resulting in low productivity. Initial attempts at livestock farming faced significant challenges.

Indigenous Peoples and Their Impact

• Approximately 300,000 Aboriginal people inhabited Australia; however, their societal structures endured significant disruption as British settlers encroached on their territories.

• Communication barriers and cultural misunderstandings resulted in violent confrontations, leading to widespread accusations of theft as the settlers competed for dwindling resources.

• Devastation from Disease: The introduction of new diseases, particularly smallpox, wreaked havoc on Indigenous populations, leading to an alarming rate of decline and dislocation of their communities.

The Role of Lachlan Macquarie (1809-1821)

• Governance and Development: Macquarie introduced major reforms aimed at integrating Emancipists (convicts who gained conditional freedom) into mainstream society. His administration saw a marked economic improvement, fostering a more diverse colony.

• Infrastructure Developments: Under his leadership, significant infrastructure projects were initiated: the construction of roads, public buildings, and the liberal establishment of Macquarie towns, reflecting an ambitious vision for colonial growth.

Impact on Aboriginal Relations

• Macquarie's approach included diverse strategies: while he made attempts towards peaceful coexistence, punitive measures followed settler retaliations against Indigenous peoples,

Conclusion: Colonial Control (1803-1829)

• Transportation Trends: Following 1815, there was a steady increase in the number of convicts transported to Australia as burgeoning crime rates and shifting societal conditions in Britain intensified the urgency for penal solutions.

• Administrative Changes: This period experienced significant shifts, including introduction of legislative councils, more direct lines of communication with London, and gradually decreased autonomy of governors by 1829. These shifts were monumental in establishing self-governance within the colony.

• Emergence of Free Citizen Class: The evolution of a free citizen class led to demands for political representation, progressing the development of the colony towards a more organized society willing to engage in self-determination.

Key Terms

• Emancipist: Convicts who have served their time and gained conditional freedom, often becoming part of the colonial economy.

• Exclusive: Designation for free settlers or their descendants who often held socioeconomic power within the colony, occasionally clashing with Emancipists over rights and privileges.