The Foundation of Australia

On February 1606, William Janszoon landed at Cape York. In October of the same year, Luís Vaz de Torres navigated the Torres straight, which is located north of Cape York. In the following years, 26 Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts of the area.

In 1770, James Cook reported to the crown about the favorable conditions for a colony at Botany Bay, which is now Sydney. In 1788, Botany Bay was established as a penal colony. Emmanuel Bowen, who was a cartographer, described Australia as extremely bountiful and ripe for colonization in 1747.

On January 26, 1788, the First Fleet set up camp and raised a flag, which is now known as Australia Day. The initial colonists were looking for good soils to establish a colony. The first main town became a place of economic life and the colonists began to grow that life. It took 17 years to establish a colony in Botany Bay. Sir Joseph Banks, a scientist and explorer, recommended Botany Bay as a suitable location for a colony.

A significant portion of the population in the colony were convicts, which made the risk for normal individuals too high to settle. The convicts had very little to lose and much to gain, including the chance to buy their freedom. The ships only brought enough food for the non-convict settlers, and they did not have enough skilled farmers. James Martin wrote his "Memorandums" which documented the experience of the early years of settling in Botany Bay.

The situation in the colony worsened the free settlers, as the Second Fleet brought more convicts, which made the situation worse. Sir Richard Bourke, who governed the colony from 1831-1837, passed the Magistrates Act, which limited the punishments to convicts and allowed freed convicts the right to own property and serve on juries. He is credited with ending Australia's position as a penal colony, along with William Wentworth.

The convicts were usually issued with a ticket of leave for good behavior, and after 7 years or so, they would be given a certificate of freedom. As the transportation of prisoners became more controversial, free settlers started to go to Australia in larger and larger numbers. Arthur Philip, along with some other officers and Watkin Tench, left behind journals of their hardships in the early years of settling in Botany Bay.

Many of the people who journeyed to New South Wales were not suited to starting a colony and were not fit for the task. Feelings of isolation set in when there were irregular ships coming in to port. However, as trade began to pick up in the area, these feelings lessened. Captain David Collins writes in his journal, "From the disposition to crimes and the incorrigible character of the major part of the colonists, an odium was, from the first, illiberally thrown upon the settlement; and the word "Botany Bay" became a term of reproach that was indiscriminately cast upon every one who resided in New South Wales. But let the reproach light upon those who have used it as such... if the honour of having deserved well of one's country be attainable by sacrificing good name, domestic comforts, and dearest connections in her service, the officers of this settlement have justly merited that distinction"

In the early years of the colony, land was granted to settlers who agreed to come out under certain conditions. Thomas Rose, his wife, and 4 children were farmers who were granted 120 acres of land. Frederic Meredith was granted 60 acres, Thomas Webb and his wife were granted 80 acres, and Joseph Webb, Thomas Webb's nephew, was granted 60 acres. Edward Powell was granted 80 acres.

The free settlers agreed to come to the colony under certain conditions, which included free travel, free agricultural tools, two years of provisions, free land, and the labor of certain convicts. One-third of the convicts in the colony were Irish.