Changes

Britain had long exported criminals as labour to the New World, mainly to [[Virginia]] and its colonies in the [[Caribbean]]. The social turmoil brought on by the [[Industrial Revolution]] had brought an increase in crime and this, added to the sudden unavailability of America after 1783, put enormous pressure on the prison system. [[James Cook]] had discovered - and claimed for the Crown – the east coast of Australia (then [[New Holland]]) during his first voyage in 1770. It was felt that not only would this faraway place be suitable as a penal colony, but British presence in the area would be a disincentive to [[France|French]] expansion in the region. (It is one of the coincidences of history that within days of the fleet’s arrival, the French navigator, [[La Perouse]] would sail into Botany Bay.)

Britain had long exported criminals as labour to the New World, mainly to [[Virginia]] and its colonies in the [[Caribbean]]. The social turmoil brought on by the [[Industrial Revolution]] had brought an increase in crime and this, added to the sudden unavailability of America after 1783, put enormous pressure on the prison system. [[James Cook]] had discovered - and claimed for the Crown – the east coast of Australia (then [[New Holland]]) during his first voyage in 1770. It was felt that not only would this faraway place be suitable as a penal colony, but British presence in the area would be a disincentive to [[France|French]] expansion in the region. (It is one of the coincidences of history that within days of the fleet’s arrival, the French navigator, [[La Perouse]] would sail into Botany Bay.)

The fleet left [[Portsmouth]], England 13th May 1787 and arrived in [[Botany Bay]], New South Wales on various days after 18th January 1788. The voyage had taken 8 months but included lengthy stays at Teneriffe in the [[Canary Islands]], [[Rio de Janeiro]] and a month at [[Cape of Good Hope]] where it had taken on as much fresh food as it could carry and about 500 head of livestock.  

The fleet left [[Portsmouth]], England 13 May 1787 and arrived in [[Botany Bay]], New South Wales on various days after 18 January 1788. The voyage had taken 8 months but included lengthy stays at Teneriffe in the [[Canary Islands]], [[Rio de Janeiro]] and a month at [[Cape of Good Hope]] where it had taken on as much fresh food as it could carry and about 500 head of livestock.  

Botany Bay was found to be unsuitable - too windswept, poor soil, insufficient fresh water – but a suitable harbour was found only a few miles up the coast. The fleet transferred to [[Port Jackson]], now better known as [[Sydney]] Harbour, where the new colony of Sydney - named in honour of the British Home Secretary - was proclaimed on 26 January 1788 – now Australia’s National Day.

Botany Bay was found to be unsuitable - too windswept, poor soil, insufficient fresh water – but a suitable harbour was found only a few miles up the coast. The fleet transferred to [[Port Jackson]], now better known as [[Sydney]] Harbour, where the new colony of Sydney - named in honour of the British Home Secretary - was proclaimed on 26 January 1788 – now Australia’s National Day.

[[Category:Australia]]

[[Category:Australia]]