Colonial Events 1788

Free Settler or Felon?

January February March April May June July August September October November December


January 18.....	*Arrival in Botany Bay of the Supply* - first ship of the First Fleet at Botany Bay. Captain Arthur Phillip. Lieutenant H.L. Ball National Archives of Australia Image no. : C4078, N7012B**
January 19.....	Arrival in Botany Bay, under Lieut. Shortland, of the ships Alexander (210 male convicts) Marine Officers - Lieut. J. Johnston, Lieut. Shairp, (Read the story of Robert Abel, one of the convicts on the Alexander at London Lives) *Scarborough(210 male convicts) Marine Officers - Captain Shea, Lieut. Kellow, Lieut. Morrison Friendship(80 male and 24 female convicts) Marine Officers - Capt. Lieut. Meredith, Lieut. Clarke, Lieut. Faddy Read an excerpt of Governor Hunter's dispatch to Lord Sydney her*
January 20.....	Arrival of the remainder of the ships of the First Fleet *Sirius -* Captain John Hunter, Quartermaster Henry Hacking Select here to read The George Raper Collection at the National Libary of Australia. George Raper was Midshipman on the Sirius *Charlotte* (100 male convicts, 24 female convicts) Marine Officers - Captain Tench, Leiut. Cresswell, Lieut. Poulden *Prince of Wales* (100 female convicts) Marine Officers: Lieut. Davy, Lieut. Timmins *Lady Penrhyn* (102 female convicts) Marine Officers: Capt. Campbell, Lieut. G. Johnston, Lieut. William Collins and Store ships Golden Grove, Fishburn and Borrowdale with provisions, implements, clothing etc.
January 21.....	Governor Phillip accompanied by officers set off in three open boats to examine the coast in the hope of finding a more suitable site for settlement than Botany Bay. Finding in a cove of 'this noble and capacious harbour' a sufficiency of water and soil, he returned to Botany Bay after an absence of 3 days and gave directions for immediate removal to Port Jackson. Registers of baptisms, burials and marriages, 1787-1856 View more presentations from State Records NSW
January 23.....	Arrival of La Perouse to the coast of 'New Holland' A Sketch of the life of Jean Francoise Gallaup de La Perouse The Monthly Review By Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths
January 25.....	With a party of marines and some artificers, Governor Phillip anchored off the mouth of the Cove
January 26......	In the evening of the 26th the whole of the party present assembled where they had first landed and a union jack was displayed. The marines fired several vollies and toasts to the health of His Majesty and the success of the new colony were given. The Monthly Review By Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths
January 2......	Disembarkation of the troops and remainder of the convicts on this day. A portable canvas house brought for the Governor was erected on the East side of Sydney Cove and a detachment of marines were encamped at the head of the Cove. The main body of the convicts were placed on the West side A List of Convicts of the First Fleet
January 28..	French ships L'Astrolabe and La Bussole under Commanders De la Perouse and De d' Angle anchored in Botany Bay. Assisted into Botany Bay by Lieut. Henry Ball of HMS Supply Select here to read Terre Napoleon A history of French explorations and projects in Australia by Ernest Scott The History of Modern Europe and a view of the progress of societ By Charles Coote, William Russell
February 3.....	First Church Service in Australia conducted by Rev. Richard Johnson at Sydney Cove More about Rev. Johnson at the State Library of NSW
February 6.....	Philip Gidley King appointed Superintendent and commandant of Norfolk Island - Departed on 14th February in the Supply for Norfolk with a petty officer, surgeon's mate, two marines, two men who understood cultivation of flax and 9 men and 6 women convicts. The Monthly Review By Ralph Griffiths, George Edward Griffiths
February 7.....	Colony of NSW formally proclaimed and Governor's commission read, appointing Captain Arthur Phillip to be captain general and governor in chief over the territory of New South Wales. The ceremony was performed by the judge-advocate, David Collins. An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales From Its First Settlement in January 1788, to August 1801 By David Collins
February.....	Discovery of Lord Howe Island by Lieut. Ball The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay With an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island By Arthur Phillip, John Marshall, John Stockdale, Henry Lidgbird Ball
February 27......	First Execution in the colony - Convict Thomas Barrett hanged for stealing provisions
Feb/March.....	Formal establishment of settlement at Norfolk Island Lieutenant King's description of Norfolk Island
March 2	Governor Phillip led an expedition to Broken Bay. Others on the expedition included Lieutenant William Bradley, Jacob Nagle and George Worgan
March 10.....	Departure of Jean-Fran�ois de Galaup La Perouse {Comte de La P�rouse} from Botany Bay after a six week stay. He was not heard of again. La Perouse in Sydney in 1909. (The camp site of La Perouse during his 6 week stay)
May 30......	Convicts William Okey and Samuel Davis killed while cutting rushes
July......	On the point of land which formed the west side of Sydney Cove, an Observatory building was constructed under the direction of Lieutenant Dawes who was charged with observing the expected comet. (HRA.,Vol.1., p47) Dawes Battery - Sydney Harbour foreshore Heritage Register
July 20......	Departure of Lieutenant Ball on the Golden Grove with provisions for Norfolk Island. Strong gales on the passage there. Returned to Sydney 26th August. Providence Petrel- Extinct on Norfolk Island by 1800
August 7......	Buildings damaged by heavy rain
August 12.....	Duel fought between Surgeon-General White and his assistant Major William Balmain
October 2.....	*Departure of the Sirius* to the Cape to obtain provisions after the failure of crops and destruction of grains and seeds**
October 2.....	Departure of the Golden Grove store ship for Norfolk Island with provisions and a detachment of marines, 2 seamen and 11 convict women David Collins' description of Norfolk Island in November when the Golden Grove returned to headquarters
October 4.....	Convict Cooper Handley murdered by aborigines
December 30......	Capture of Arabanoo "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song.
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