The First Fleeter's: The Journey to Australia

By JC Reardon

The First Fleet was a group of 11 ships that sailed from England to Australia in 1787, marking the beginning of British colonization of the continent.

The fleet carried over 1,000 people, including convicts, marines, and officers, led by Captain Arthur Phillip. The journey took approximately eight months, with the fleet departing from Portsmouth on May 13, 1787, and arriving at Botany Bay on January 18, 1788. The primary purpose of the voyage was to establish a penal colony in Australia, as Britain's prisons were overcrowded, and the American colonies, where convicts were previously sent, were no longer available following the American Revolution.

The fleet's voyage was fraught with challenges, including poor weather, scurvy, and limited supplies. After reaching Botany Bay, the site was deemed unsuitable for settlement, and the fleet moved to Port Jackson, where they founded the settlement of Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788.

This date is now commemorated as Australia Day. The First Fleet's arrival marked the beginning of significant change for the Indigenous peoples of Australia, as European settlement expanded across the continent, leading to displacement, violence, and cultural disruption. Despite the hardships, the First Fleet established a foundation for future British settlement in Australia.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DTTYTPKQ
• ISBN13: 9798307948798
• Release Date: January 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"