On 13 May 1787 a fleet of 11 ships set sail from Portsmouth, England under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. This historic convoy, which later became known as the First Fleet, carried over 1400 men, women and children to the other side of the globe. Almost half of those on board were convicts sentenced to transportation; the rest were officers, crew, marines, and their families.
On 26 January, the fleet made anchorage at Sydney Cove. This site had everything needed for the new colony; deep water close to the shore, shelter and fresh water. Phillip named the bay Sydney Cove, it was known as Warrane by the local Gadigal (a clan of Eora nation) people.
Reasons for the First Fleet
Life in Britain during the 1770s was tough. The Industrial Revolution and the invention of the steam train caused serious overcrowding in the cities of England. People were out of work and starving. Poverty led to a rise in crime and the prisons were overflowing. For many years, England had sent prisoners to its colonies in North America to ease the burden on its prisons. However, the American War of Independence meant Britain could no longer send prisoners, the jails and hulks of England soon became full and another destination was needed. The government chose Australia, claimed by Captain James Cook for the British Empire in 1770, as the site for this new penal colony.
Lives of the People
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