Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove (now known as Circular Quay) with the First Fleet on 26 January 1788. It took over 8 months (250 days) to sail to Australia from England.

• There were 11 ships, each no larger than a Manly ferry.

• There were more than 1480 men, women and children onboard including convicts, marines sailors, government officials and freesetlers.

• There were lots of supplies on board like food, animals, tools, building materials and weapons.

• The convicts came mainly from from England.

• The First fleet travelled from Portsmouth England and stopped at Tenerife island, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Capetown (South Africa) and finally across the Southern Ocean to New South Wales.

• They first arrived at Botany Bay on the 18-20th January but discovered the water was too shallow, the land was to sandy to grow food, and there was not enough fresh water.

• Governor Phillip and a party of marines went exploring and discovered Sydney Harbour nearby.

• He moved the First Fleet to Circular Quay where there was a freshwater stream, a deep harbour where ships could get close to the shore and some flat land for farming nearby which we call today the Botanic Gardens.

How many different animals from England can you count, in the picture above, that the first Fleet brought with them?

Governor Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack, the flag of England on the 26 January 1788 at Circular Quay. This ceremony was a symbol to show that England had claimed NSW as it's colony. A colony is land that is claimed and ruled by a country.

• The 26th January was first called Foundation Day to remember the day the colony of NSW was founded.

• Today we remember this historic event and call it Australia Day

• For Aboriginal people, this can be a sad day to remember as it is the day their country was occupied by the English. It is sometimes called Invasion Day.

• It is important that on Australia Day we celebrate all the great things about being Australian as well as remembering and celebrating the culture of Aboriginal people.

Did you know? The Union Jack was different to today's flag because ireland had not joined the United kingdom.

Click the video to learn more about the first flag raising ceremony and monument

Why do you think some Aboriginal People sometimes call Australia Day, Invasion Day?

Captain Arthur Phillip was chosen by the British Government to be the first Governor of the new colony of NSW. A Governor is someone who represents a king or queen. He was also given the job of leading the First Fleet. This was a huge event in world history, as it was the first time the English would establish a permanent settlement in Australia. It also meant a huge change for the Aboriginal people, the traditional owners of the land.

Captain Phillip sailed in the Sirius leading 11 ships, carrying around around 1,500 people as well as all the supplies needed to survive in the new colony. The voyage took around 9 months and stopped at a number of ports to bring aboard more supplies.

When he arrived in Botany Bay, the area Captain Cook had recommended, Phillip found it unsuitable and searched for a better place to start a new town. He explore further north and found Port Jackson, the site of Sydney today.

Phillip ruled the colony for four years from 26th January 1788 to the 10th December 1792. In the early days of the colony life was very difficult. Supplies were running low and it was hard to survive on the small amount of food they had brought with them. It took some time to establish gardens and to raise animals that they could eat.

Some of the soldiers also challenged Phillips orders. Phillip gave orders that the local Aboriginal people were to be well treated but that did not always happen. He captured an Aboriginal man called Bennelong to use him as an interpreter so that both groups could better understand each other.

Did you know? Governor Phillip had respect from the Aboriginal people because he was missing a front tooth. This tooth was the same tooth that the Gadigal people knocked out as part of their initiation ceremonies.