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1788: Convict Cargo
Backhouse, Edward, A chain gang, convicts going to work near Sidney [i.e. Sydney], New South Wales 1843, nla.obj-138467409
The Spiritstone guides you down the east coast of Australia. You hide on a forested hill above the bay as eleven tall ships come into Port Jackson.
As the ships pull up, small wooden rowboats take white-skinned people from the boats to the shore. You creep down to the landing site, listening hard so you can hear.
“Better spot than Botany Bay to start a settlement, that’s for sure,” says a rough-looking sailor, carrying equipment from boat to shore.
“But with all these criminals though, does it even matter?” replies another.
“Yeah good point Davey,” says the first sailor, “but there’s almost 1,400 of us in total. Us navy seamen too, and our families.”
“True John, true,” replies Davey, “and besides, Governor Arthur Phillip doesn’t just want these convicts punished, he wants to make them better people.”
“Good luck with that!” responds John.
“The governor is very thorough and enthusiastic alright. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. I heard him say ‘I am serving my country, and serving the cause of humanity.’ So I guess we are in good hands.”
The men continue talking. You scout around the group, careful not to be seen.
Over time, as the Europeans settled, they struggled to survive. They had brought soldiers, not farmers; many of their seeds were spoilt on the voyage; and they struggled to grow food in the soil.
You see dark-skinned Aboriginal people interacting with them from time to time. Governor Phillip tries to set up friendly relations with the local tribe, the Eora. One man, Bennelong, acts as a middle man between the Indigenous Australians and the newcomers. You even notice Bennelong become friends with the governor.
Yet, over time, you notice that relations between the Indigenous people and the colonists gets worse. They just don’t understand each other’s culture. The settlers bring violence and diseases like smallpox which hurt the Indigenous people, and they also live on land that belonged to the Indigenous people. It is hard to see how the two can live in peace.
Port Jackson Harbour, in New South Wales: with a distant view of the Blue Mountains. Taken from South Head, 1812. Ink print on paper by John Eyre. National Gallery of Australia
“Show your understanding of these events by placing them in the correct order.”
Your task
Put these events in the correct order starting with the earliest. You may need to do some research to complete this task.
A penal (punishment) colony is set up in Moreton Bay (now Brisbane)
A penal (punishment) colony is set up in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania)
Arthur Phillip’s term as governor ends
Captain Arthur Phillip is officially appointed governor of New South Wales
Matthew Flinders sails all around Australia
The First Fleet arrives in Port Jackson, with convicts on board, and sets up a settlement
The Second Fleet arrives in Port Jackson
Put them on a timeline in the correct order, including the years. Make your timeline an interesting picture, and include something linked to Australia, like a snake, a boomerang or even a chain!
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