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Timeline: 1771 – 1790

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1771

October 11

Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of the Colony of New South Wales, born in London, England, the son of the language teacher, Jakob Phillip, from Frankfurt, Germany. A laconic, retiring and even lonely man, Phillip had begun his arduous apprenticeship at Greenwich Hospital, a training school for the sons of seamen.

July 13

Lieutenant James Cook returns to Plymouth, England after journeying home via Batavia. His prestige is greatly enhanced by the extraordinary odyssey which did so much to increase man’s knowledge of his world.


1772

March 29

Le Gros Ventre, under the command of François-Alesno de St Allouarn, sails north up the coast of Western Australia, entering Shark Bay on 29th March. St Allouarn sends a boat with an officer to reconnoitre the land, accompanied by the boat’s crew and five soldiers, being too ill himself to leave the vessel. His second in command, Lieut. M. de Mingot, takes possession of all the land to the north and east of Shark Bay. A flag is raised to mark the occasion and de Mingot places under a bush a bottle containing two six-franc coins and an Act of Possession, claiming possession of the west coast of New Holland for the King of France. The ship’s log refers to this Bay as the ‘Baie de Prise de Possession’ (the Bay of Taking of Possession). The Le Gros Ventre leaves the area on 9th April 1772.

April 9

Lieut James Cook embarks on his second voyage of discovery into the Pacific, sailing aboard HMS Resolution, accompanied by Capt Tobias Furneaux in HMS Adventure. Once again he circumnavigates the globe and during this voyage Furneaux closely examines the east coast of Van Diemen’s Land.


1774

March 16

British navigator and explorer of the Australian coastline, Mattew Flinders, born Donington, Lincolnshire, England.


1776

August

At the suggestion of Joseph Banks, the east coast of New South Wales is selected as a place to found a Penal Settlement. As Secretary of State for the Home Department, Lord Sydney, Thomas Townshend becomes the minister responsible for recommending the adoption of a plan for a settlement in Australia.

September 1

The British Government placeds the first of a series of advertisements in the London The Morning Herald for the hiring of the required shipping for the First Fleet. The offer is first taken up by William Richards Junior, a little-known Navy broker. Born in Dover in 1735, Richards is the son of a tailor who, by the 1780s, is one of London’s wealthier sons.

October 12

Lord Sydney appoints Arthur Phillip to the task of leading the first fleet to Australia and establishing the colony of New South Wales.


1787

May 13

The eleven ships of the fleet under the command of Arthur Phillip leave Portsmouth, England early on Sunday 13th May 1787.


1788

January 18

The ships of the First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay under the command of Arthur Phillip, carrying male convicts

January 22

Following a brief exploration of Port Jackson, Arthur Phillip and Captain John Hunter find it to be a more suitable site for settlement

January 23

The French frigates La Boussole and L’Astrolabe, under the command of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Perouse, arrive off Botany Bay.

January 26

Arthur Phillip establishes a settlement at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson The first white child is born in Australia to Sergeant Thomas Whittle of the marines and his wife

February 7

The colony of New South Wales is formally proclaimed. Arthur Phillip is sworn in as Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief.

February 10

The first marriages are solemnised in Australia.

February 27

A seventeen year old convict, Thomas Barrett, receives the first death sentence in the colony. A farm is established at Farm Cove under the direction of Henry Dodd.

March 6

Lieut Philip Gidley King takes formal possession of Norfolk¨ Island. He takes convicts and marines to set up the settlement.

March 10

La Boussole and L’Astrolabe, captained by Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Perouse, leave Botany Bay, and are never seen again. The wrecks of their ships are later found at Vanikoro (Vanuatu) with no survivors.

April 15

Governor Arthur Phillip explores northwards to Manly and sights the Blue Mountains.

June 4

John White (surgeon of the first fleet and noted for his strong opinions and quick temper) fights a duel with his third assistant, William Balmain, after the King’s birthday festivities. Balmain receives a small wound to the thigh.

June 5

All cattle, transported with the First Fleet from Cape Town, stray from the settlement. They are found seven years later.

October 2

Capt John Hunter sails for Cape Town in HMS Sirius for provisions.

November 1

A settlement is established at Rose Hill. On 2nd June 1791 the settlement is renamed Parramatta.

December 30

Gov Arthur Phillip has an Aboriginal man named Arabanoo captured so that he can act as an interpreter.


1789

January

A convict uprising on Norfolk¨ Island is planned, and suppressed.

March 25

Seven marines are tried and executed for the systematic robbery of stores.

April 25

Following their departure from Tahiti, 1st Lieutenant Fletcher Christian and crew members mutiny on HMS Bounty (specifications). Capt William Bligh and loyal crew members are cast adrift in a launch. Bligh and remaining crew from HMS Bounty arrive in Timor following a journey of 5,800 km in an open boat on 14th June.

May 1

An outbreak of Smallpox occurs at Sydney Cove and causes many deaths amongst the Aboriginal population including Arabanoo.

June 4

The first Government House is completed.

June 12

Governor Arthur Phillip discovers the Hawkesbury River on an expedition to Broken Bay.

June 27

Capt Watkin Tench explores the Nepean River.

August 12

Twelve of the best-behaved convicts are appointed as the colony’s police force carrying out night watch.

September 20

Capt John Hunter explores and charts Botany Bay.

October 5

The first vessel to be built in the colony is launched for trading on the Parramatta River.

November 1

Rations are reduced by one-third due to a shortage of food and the failure of crops.

November 26

Two Aboriginal men, Bennelong and Colbee, are captured by Gov Arthur Phillip.


1790

February 28

A convict, John Irving, is the first to be emancipated in New South Wales.

March 19

Following the transportation of convicts to Norfolk¨ Island, HMS Sirius is wrecked off the Island.

April 17

HMS Supply sails to Batavia for supplies.

June 20 – 28

The Second Fleet¨ arrives with further rations, convicts (759, including 486 sick) and the first detachment of the NSW Corps.

July

A census is taken finding the population of NSW to be 1,715 and Norfolk¨ Island, 524.

September 7

Governor Arthur Phillip is speared at Collins Beach near Manly whilst attempting to speak with Bennelong and Colbee.

October 18

HMS Supply returns from Batavia with a small cargo of supplies.

November

Bennelong moves into a brick hut built for him on the eastern point of Sydney Cove.



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