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The First Fleet
CHRONOLOGY OF THE ENGLISH FIRST FLEET ARRIVAL AT BOTANY BAY AND SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENT OF SYDNEY COVE IN PORT JACKSON
Introduction
This chronology of events relating to the entry of the First Fleet into Botany
Bay and its subsequent removal to Port Jackson to establish Sydney Town over the
following eleven months is compiled from the Journals of Officers on the
following First Fleet ships: Lady Penrhyn, Sirius, Alexander, Scarborough,
Prince of Wales, and Fishburn [Source: Historical Records of New South Wales,
Volume 2, Sydney Government Printer, 1892-1901], with additions by way of
commentary by History Services NSW.
The Chronology traces the early establishment of the New South Wales Colony through the following stages:
• Removal of the First Fleet from Botany Bay to Port Jackson,
• Interaction with the La Perouse French expedition at Botany Bay,
• Settlement of Sydney Cove and the early establishment of Sydney Town,
• Early interactions with the Aborigines [Natives],
• Exploration of Port Jackson and Broken Bay,
• Expansion of the Colony to Norfolk Island and discovery of Lord Howe Island,
and,
• Despatch of the First Fleet ships from Port Jackson.
First Fleet Chronology [Timeline]
18/1/1788 – Commencement of First Fleet entering Botany Bay
The Supply arrived at Botany Bay on Friday afternoon. The Supply
anchored on the northern side of the Bay and waited for the other ships to
arrive.
19/1/1788
The Alexander, Scarborough and Friendship arrived at Botany
Bay in the morning.
Fifty or sixty natives appeared on the point of Botany Bay.
20/1/1788
By 7 a.m. the other six ships of the First Fleet had arrived at Botany Bay. The
whole fleet was at anchor by 10 a. m.
In passing Point Solander [near Botany Bay] officers on the
Lady Penrhyn could see seven natives on shore.
From the Fishburn, several natives on each side of
Botany Bay were seen, who halloed to the ships and brandished their spears.
Some hands of the Scarborough went ashore to cut
grass for the stock.
Commodore [Governor] Phillip was preparing to leave Botany Bay
the next morning to find a more suitable place for settlement.
Botany Bay was not considered suitable for the establishment of the Colony. The primary reasons were:
-
the poor sandy soil was unsuitable for growing crops;
-
there was a lack of sufficient fresh water;
-
parts of Botany Bay had shallow water and thus the ships could not be moored close to shore; and
-
the bay was buffeted by strong winds from the sea.
No convicts were landed.
21/1/1788 – Search for a better harbour; Contact with
Aborigines
In the morning, Commodore [Governor] Phillip, Captain Hunter and others went in
three boats to examine a bay to the northward a few leagues. They intended to
sail to Broken Bay, but there was another bay which was sighted, but not entered
by Captain Cook, which he named Port Jackson, after George Jackson,
Judge-Advocate of the Fleet.
That afternoon they sailed into Port Jackson [instead of
Broken Bay] and went ashore at present day Camp Cove.
Part of the Sirius’s company employed on the south shore of Botany Bay with the Lieutenant-Governor. In the Lady Penrhyn Journal it was stated that the natives did not appear to be hostile, talked very loud and seemed greatly surprised at the sight of the ships. They appeared to be very fond of buttons. They expressed by signs a wish to know what sex we were, in which several of the men present satisfied them; they seemed greatly pleased to find we were men, and hollowed very loud, and shook hands with us.
Camp Cove, Port Jackson. Monument reads
"On this beach [Camp Cove] Governor Phillip first landed in Port Jackson January
21, 1788".
Camp Cove, Port Jackson
22/1/1788
A party from the Alexander were landed on the south side of Botany Bay to work.
In the Lady Penrhyn Journal it was stated that they had not yet seen
any female aborigines.
An officer of the Fishburn saw 30 of the natives
together. He commented that ‘they seemed quite harmless, only inclinable to
thieving, and it was with difficulty for the Captain to keep his hat on his
head; they were all quite naked and armed with fish-spears; they were quite
black, with bushy hair on their heads’.
Commodore Phillip examined Port Jackson Harbour and chose
Sydney Cove as the place of settlement as it had a good spring of water [this
was later called the Tank Stream].
23/1/1788 – Orders given to abandon Botany Bay
Governor Phillip returned from Port Jackson during the afternoon.
At 5 p.m. the Sirius made the signal for all masters of the First Fleet ships to board the ship.
Orders were given to prepare for going round to Port Jackson.
24/1/1788 – Arrival of two French ships at Botany Bay
In the morning, two vessels appeared off-shore from Botany Bay, which afterwards
turned out to be the French ships, Astrolabe and Boussole [Bousole],
under the command of Monsieur de La Perouse. It was initially assumed that the
vessels were two large English ships carrying more convicts and stores or they
were Dutch ships coming after the First Fleet to oppose their landing.
Commodore Phillip sent the Supply brig out of Botany
Bay (the wind then blew very strong out of Botany Bay, which prevented the
French ships getting into the Bay) to hoist his colours, and see if they could
perceive what nations they belonged to; and the Supply afterwards
returned with a certainty they were not English ships, but either French,
Spanish or Portuguese. They later concluded them to be two French ships which
had been making discoveries in the South Seas.
The arrival of the two French ships delayed the abandonment of
Botany Bay as Commodore Phillip wanted to be certain of the identity of the
ships before he left.
25/1/1788 – Phillip leaves Botany Bay
Commodore Phillip sailed from Botany Bay in the Supply for Port Jackson
and the rest of the First Fleet prepared to leave Botany Bay the following day.
The Supply, with Commodore Phillip on board anchored
near Sydney Cove about 7 pm.
26/1/1788 – First Fleet enters Port Jackson;
Description of Port Jackson in native state; French expedition enters Botany Bay
This morning at 8 o’clock a large ship with a Pennant came into sight round
Point Solander [at Botany Bay]. At 10 o’clock it was determined that it was two
large French ships that had just entered Botany Bay. The Sirius sent
out a boat to speak to them. The ships were the Astrolabe [L’Astrolabe]
and Boussole [Bousole] [Bussole], which had left Port Brest in 1785.
The two French ships entered Botany Bay as the English First
Fleet was abandoning the Bay and had commenced sailing to Port Jackson.
The French expedition under the command of Francois de La
Perouse landed on the northern side of Botany Bay, at present day La Perouse.
In the afternoon, the officers and marines had been landed at
Sydney Cove and the Union Jack flag was hoisted on the shore, and ‘possession
was taken for His Majesty the King’. The marines fired several vollies.
By 7 o’clock p.m. Commodore Phillip and the ships of the First
Fleet had all entered Port Jackson, and sailed up to the cove where the
settlement was to be made.
The sight of the Port Jackson was described as “having the
finest terra’s, lawns and grottos, with distinct plantations of the tallest and
most stately trees ever seen in any nobleman’s grounds in England, cannot excel
in beauty those which nature now presented to their view. The singing of the
various birds amongst the trees, and the fight of numerous parraquets,
lorrequets, cockatoos, and macaws, made all round appear like in enchantment;
the stupendous rocks from the summit of the hills and down to the very water’s
edge hanging over in a most awful manner from above, and forming the most
commodious quays by the water. The moulds here are a foot and a half down as
rich as any garden in England will afford; there are also many very lofty firs,
and here is also the cabbage-tree.
The ships, some of them, lay so near the stone cliffs that you may with ease jump from the ships to shore. There was a Captain’s company on shore all night and tent’s pitched”.
La Perouse, as seen from Captain Cook's landing
site at Botany Bay
27/1/1788 – Regulations made within Sydney Cove and work begins to
establish the settlement of Sydney Town
At 7 a.m. the Scarborough delivered ashore at Sydney Cove, 1 forge, 1
pair of bellows, 9 iron bars, 1 bundle of smith’s tools, 1 box of
splitting-wedges, 1 dozen cross-cut saws, 5 Marines and 100 convicts.
This morning a longboat full of convicts from the
Scarborough were carried on shore to assist in cutting down trees, making
saw-pits, and other necessary business.
There are strict orders from the Governor that no boats go out
of the Cove on any pretence whatever, nor are any Sailors to be on shore after
sunset, otherwise they will be liable to be shot by the picket guard.
28/1/1788 – Survey of Sydney Harbour
The Scarborough delivered ashore, 1 bundle of blacksmith’s vices, and
sent the remainder of its convicts on shore.
The Prince of Wales sent on shore 21 Marines, 17
women and 14 children, and 2 male convicts.
Captain Hunter, Lieutenant Bradley and others went to survey
Sydney Harbour.
29/1/1788
Seaman, John Fawley received a dozen lashes for insolence and disobedience, and
was returned to his ship.
The King’s Carpenter went on board the Scarborough to
take down the convict barracks on the ship.
30/1/1788 – Lieutenant King appointed Governor of
Norfolk Island; Ship’s crew punished
The appointment of Lieutenant King as Governor of Norfolk Island was recorded.
About 3 o’clock Lieutenant King came on board the Lady
Penrhyn to consult about the characters of 5 or 6 women whom he meant to
take with him in about 8 or 10 days to New Norfolk [Norfolk Island], to which
place the Governor had appointed him Governor, and Mr. Jameson (the first
Surgeon’s Mate of the Sirius) is appointed Surgeon; he is to take with
him 8 of the convict men and 6 women.
The Fishburn delivered the stock belonging to the
Governor.
The long-boats employed in carrying the cattle for the cattle
onto shore.
1/2/1788
A group of men from the Sirius sent on shore to erect tents.
2/2/1788
Empty casks repaired on the shore.
The Scarborough delivered ashore, 3 forges, 1 anvil.
They lost 1 anvil overboard.
3/2/1788 – First Divine service held on shore
Reverend Richard Johnson held his
first Divine Service on the shore under a giant tree.
4/2/1788
The Chaplain [Reverend Johnson] went
on board the Sirius and performed Divine Service.
5/2/1788
The Commissary and Agent went on board ships and served wearing apparel to the
convicts.
Female convicts began to be landed on the left side of the
Cove, near the Governor’s house.
6/2/1788 – Debauchery and riot with female convicts
Women were landed after being searched. They were dressed in general very clean,
and many of them well dressed. Within one hour of the female convict landing,
and before they could adjust their tents in order for sleeping in them, there
came on a most violent thunder storm. The lightning killed 5 of Major Ross’s
sheep. The male convicts got to them very soon after their landing, and a scene
of debauchery and riot ensured during the night.
7/2/1788 – A historic ceremony – Governor Phillip’s
commission read
At 10 o’clock, everyone who could leave the ships, and every other person on
shore, were summoned to hear the Governor’s Commission read, and also the
Commission constituting the Court of Judicature.
9/2/1788 – Sailor drummed out of camp
One of the Sailors belonging to the Alexander was caught in the women’s
tents and was drummed out of the camp with his hands tied behind him while the
Rogue’s March was played.
10/2/1788
Reverend Richard Johnson held Divine
Service on shore and officiated at several baptisms and marriages.
11/2/1788 - Marine and convict punished
A Carpenter, Sailors and a boy were caught in the women’s tents and were drummed
out of camp. Anarchy amongst the convicts was still continuing. Reported that
the convict men seize upon any sailor they find on shore near the women, beat
them most unmercifully, and send them back on board the ships.
One of the Marines [Thomas Bramwell], servant to George
Johnston, got among the women, and beat one of them (with whom he had
connections whilst on board his ship), and as a punishment he received 100
lashes and was to receive 100 more. One of the convicts, who struck a sentry,
was sentenced to receive 150 lashes.
An officer and a party of men were sent to Garden Island to
clear it for a garden.
When persons of the Fishburn were fishing, several
natives came to them, and the natives were given some fish, for which they were
pleased, as the method they have of catching fish was by striking them, which
was very tedious. The natives immediately made a fire and roasted the fish and
ate them, guts and all.
14/2/1788 – Lieutenant King sets off for Norfolk
Island
Lieutenant King and his party (including convicts) set off in the brig
Supply (Captain Ball) to colonise New Norfolk [Norfolk Island].
15/2/1788
Governor and Captain Hunter with boats went up the Harbour.
George Nelson, a Cook, who attempted to swim on shore, was
drowned before any assistance could be given to him.
17/2/1788 – Natives enter camp for
first time; French Roman Catholic Priest died at Botany Bay
In the morning, Reverend Johnson
went on shore to preach and administer the Sacrament.
He celebrated ten weddings.
Two natives came into the camp for the first time and the
Governor gave them a hatchet.
Father Le Receveur, a Roman Catholic Priest and Naturalist
from the La Perouse expedition died at Botany Bay.
19/2/1788 - Frenchmen visit Port Jackson settlement
Three Frenchmen from the two French ships in Botany Bay came overland with
fowling pieces, under the pretence of shooting, but it was believed the purpose
was to take a view of matters going on in Port Jackson. They had already erected
a fort with two or three guns on shore at Broken Bay. The Governor forbids
anyone going to Botany Bay. Two horses were sent over to Botany Bay to conduct
the French Commodore and another to Port Jackson.
20/2/1788
Mr James Smith was made High Baliff and a tent was fixed for him. He began
building a house and had a black convict and the boy Joseph Harris (son of a
female convict) to wait on him.
22/2/1788
The Scarborough delivered ashore, 4 millstones, 4 ploughs.
24/2/1788 – Two men pardoned from gallows
Two men pardoned under the gallows for theft.
26/2/1788
Captain Hunter went to Botany Bay in a launch.
27/2/1788 – Prisoner executed; Party sets off for
Parramatta
James Barrett, convict, was executed for theft. Major Ross, the
Lieutenant-Governor, attended with a large body of Marines in case an
insurrection should take place. Reverend
Johnson prayed with the prisoner and performed every office appertaining to
his function.
About 3 o’clock in the jolly-boat, a party (including Captain
Campbell, James Smith, Major Ross’s gardener, Arthur Bowes) set off to a cove up
the Bay to examine the soil and see if any water was to be found, as Major Ross
and Captain Campbell mean to fix there; the soil is exceedingly rich, and the
trees stand very thin, and are in general small, so that the ground would easily
be cleared.
29/2/1788 – Description of Natives
Persons from the Fishburn went down the Harbour in a longboat and saw
women. They were stark naked and did not show any signs of shame. Two of the
women each had a child, which they always carry upon their back. The children’s
heads were ornamented with fishbone. There were 16 men close by them, and were
quite inoffensive. At their departure in the longboat, two of the ladies obliged
them with a dance, in which they threw their limbs in odd postures.
2/3/1788 – Governor went to Broken Bay
The Governor and his party went with a launch and cutter to examine a Bay
[Broken Bay] to the northward.
Two Soldiers lost in the bush.
3/3/1788
Some convicts attacked by the natives.
4/3/1788 – French officers visit Sydney Cove
Several French officers came from Botany Bay.
9/3/1788
The Governor returned from Broken Bay.
A man was found in the bush quite naked, being stripped by the
natives.
10/3/1788 – French ships leave Botany Bay
The two French ships of the La Perouse expedition sailed from Botany Bay to the
northward.
La Perouse monument, completed in 1828
Inscriptions on La Perouse monument at La Perouse
French inscriptions on La Perouse monument
11/3/1788 – Two female convicts escape
Two women ran off with their beds and baggage, and it was supposed they went
towards Botany Bay to join some runaway convicts.
17/3/1788
The Scarborough delivered ashore, coals, 300 round shot.
18/3/1788
The Scarborough delivered ashore, 5,000 bricks.
19/3/1788 – Supply returns from Norfolk
Island – Lord Howe Island discovered
The Supply returned [from Norfolk Island] to Port Jackson, having
discovered an Island, which was named Lord Howe Isle. The surf was so very great
at New Norfolk [Norfolk Island] that the people could not affect a landing till
the fourth day after their arrival, and one of the Quarter–Masters was washed
overboard and drowned.
25/3/1788 – Many sick persons in Hospital
Upwards of 200 persons were sick in the Hospital on shore.
The Lady Penrhyn, Charlotte and Scarborough were discharged
from H. M. Service.
14/4/1788
Captain Hunter surveyed part of the harbour newly discovered.
Two natives came into the camp.
22/4/1788
Persons cut cabbage-trees for the women’s huts.
25/4/1788
Persons cut cabbage-trees for the women’s huts.
4/5/1788
The Scarborough and Lady Penrhyn left Port Jackson.
6/5/1788
The Charlotte left Port Jackson.
The Supply sailed for Lord Howe Island.
9/5/1788
Party of men on shore to build huts for the female convicts.
25/5/1788 – Supply arrived from Lord Howe
Island
Supply arrived from Lord Howe Island.
30/5/1788
Two male convicts brought into camp, murdered by the natives.
4/6/1788 – King’s birthday celebrated
Four convicts pardoned who were under sentence of death.
As it was the King’s birthday, 5 guns were fired.
14/7/1788 – Four ships leave Sydney for England
The ships, Alexander, Borrowdale, Prince of Wales and Friendship,
left Port Jackson for their passage to England.
20/7/1788
The Supply sailed for Norfolk Island.
27/8/1788
The Supply sailed for Norfolk Island.
2/10/1788
Golden Grove sailed for Norfolk Island with convicts.
Sirius sailed for Cape of Good Hope for supplies.
10/11/1788
Golden Grove returned to Port Jackson.
16/11/1788
Golden Grove and Fishburn left Port Jackson.
Supply only First Fleet ship that remained in
Government service in Port Jackson.
Links
Project
Gutenberg Australia: The First Fleet
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