Happy Australia Day!

[Daft Bat]

The 13th May 1787 saw 11 ships set sail from England loaded with over 1,300 people in order to set up a penal colony in Botany Bay, Australia. Of these 11 ships, 2 were Royal Navy vessels, 3 were ships carrying stores and the other 6 carried the convicts; records showing that there were between 750 and 780 of them.

Whilst the Fleet arrived at Botany Bay between 18th and 20th January 1788, Botany Bay itself was deemed to be unsuitable for settlement due to the lack of fresh water, swampy foreshore, shallow harbour and poor soil quality.

Captain Arthur Phillip took the decision to move a few miles up the coast and so it was today, 26th January in 1788 that a landing was made at Sydney Cove and the first ceremony of the saluting of the flag took place.

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[Archie's Mum]

Followed by La Peruse in command of the Astrolabe and Boussole who made land fall at Botany Bay on the 26th January but Phillip and the First Fleet had already moved on to Port Jackson. We could have been French instead of British. Unfortunately La Peruse left and was never to be seen again. Both ships lost to the sea.They did however bury their priest at a place now named La Peruse before they sailed.
Happy Australia Day.

 

[Archie's Mum]

I keep forgetting this fact. We actually celebrate on the 26th January because that is the date in 1949 that we became Australian citizens and not subjects of the British crown. Yes, Phillip raised the flag on that date but we became our own people in 1949.