Colonial Events 1799
Circumnavigation of Van Diemen's Land completed by Bass and Flinders
March 3
Floods at the Hawkesbury river begin. Crops and stock destroyed. Govt. store house swept away
May 3
Arrival of the vessel Buffalo. The Buffalo brought live cattle from the Cape and other goods for the settlement. Settlers with useful trades came with their wives and families and John William Lewin a painter and drawer in natural history who was to be allowed government rations during his residence. The settlers who signed terms of settlement were James Thomas, John Bean, John Hanson, William Weller and Thomas Bradley. The Buffalo returned to England in 1800.
Arrival of the Albion, Captain Bunker, from England with 900 tons of salt pork.
July 8
Departure of Matthew Flinders from Sydney on the sloop Norfolk. -July 14
Arrival of Matthew Flinders at Cape Moreton.July 26
Arrival of the convict ship Hillsborough. David Dickinson Mann, George Crossley, and George Pellwere some of the convicts on board
Population - General Return of the colony - 4,746
November
Correspondence re the cost of food and supplies and living conditions for new arrivalsNovember 3
Arrival of ship Walker. Master John NicholNovember 13
Departure of the Friendship from St. Helena. Bound for Botany Bay
Increasing confidence in the colony with success on the whale boats, production of sufficient wheat and discovery of wild cattle. Success of the whale boats and Captain Eber Bunker