The First Fleet: The Real Story“Alan Frost is the myth-buster of Australian history...His work should be studied not only by students but anyone interested in the birth of a nation.” — the Age In 1787 a convoy of eleven ships, carrying about 1400 people, set out from England for Botany Bay. According to the conventional account, it was a shambolic affair: under-prepared, poorly equipped and ill-disciplined. Robert Hughes condemned the organisers’ “muddle and lack of foresight”, while Manning Clark described scenes of “indescribable misery and confusion”. In The First Fleet: The Real Story, Alan Frost draws on previously forgotten records to debunk these persistent myths. He shows that the voyage was in fact meticulously planned – reflecting its importance to the British government’s secret ambitions for imperial expansion. He examines the ships and supplies, passengers and behind-the-scenes discussions. In the process, he reveals the hopes and schemes of those who planned the voyage, and the experiences of those who made it. ‘It is almost certain that Frost knows more than anybody else about the early maritime history of this land ... This book will surely alter the way Sydney sees its history.’ — Geoffrey Blainey, The Weekend Australian |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 27
Page 12
... advised Nepean that he had 'given directions agreeable to [your] letter concerning provisions, essence of malt, wine etc., trusting to official authority in due time'. And each sympathized with 12 The First Fleet: The Real Story.
... advised Nepean that he had 'given directions agreeable to [your] letter concerning provisions, essence of malt, wine etc., trusting to official authority in due time'. And each sympathized with 12 The First Fleet: The Real Story.
Page 20
... advised that the Treasury had been asked to arrange for a number of vessels to convey the convicts to Botany Bay, 'together with provisions and other supplies for their subsistence, as well as tools to enable them to erect habitations ...
... advised that the Treasury had been asked to arrange for a number of vessels to convey the convicts to Botany Bay, 'together with provisions and other supplies for their subsistence, as well as tools to enable them to erect habitations ...
Page 21
... advised that the Company's directors were unhappy that, while the government was paying Richards £7 per ton for his ships on the outward voyage, they were paying £10 per ton for the homeward one.8 * By this time, the public had also ...
... advised that the Company's directors were unhappy that, while the government was paying Richards £7 per ton for his ships on the outward voyage, they were paying £10 per ton for the homeward one.8 * By this time, the public had also ...
Page 22
... advised the correct situation early in January 1787, when it said that the governor had 'discretionary power to land the convicts at Botany Bay, or Norfolk Island, or elsewhere, as he shall think proper. He is not particularly bound to ...
... advised the correct situation early in January 1787, when it said that the governor had 'discretionary power to land the convicts at Botany Bay, or Norfolk Island, or elsewhere, as he shall think proper. He is not particularly bound to ...
Page 23
The Real Story Alan Frost. In January 1787, a number of papers advised readers that the expedition to Botany Bay comprehends in it more than the mere banishment of our felons. It is an undertaking of humanity, for in all the islands of ...
The Real Story Alan Frost. In January 1787, a number of papers advised readers that the expedition to Botany Bay comprehends in it more than the mere banishment of our felons. It is an undertaking of humanity, for in all the islands of ...
Contents
17 | |
27 | |
Officials and Officers | 49 |
Ships Crews Marines Convicts | 64 |
The Ships | 81 |
Equipping the Colonists | 95 |
Loading the Ships and Embarking the People | 114 |
AtPortsmouth | 129 |
Preparing Bodiesfor the Voyage | 140 |
Leaving the World | 159 |
No CheaperMode? | 181 |
Conclusion | 198 |
Acknowledgments | 217 |
Select Bibliography | 250 |
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Common terms and phrases
24 October 28 February administration’s Admiralty advised Alexander appointed April arrival Arthur Phillip asked August Botany Bay Campbell Cape Chronicle clothing Collins colonists colony’s command commission cost court crew December Deptford Officers embarked England establishment Evan Nepean expedition expense February female convicts Fleet fresh foods governor Home Office HRNSW Hunter Island January Lady Penrhyn land Lieutenant London March marine officers marines and convicts Memorandum Middleton to Nepean Minute naval Navy Board necessary needed Nepean to Middleton November Ocean Officers to Navy ofthe Phillip to Nepean Phillip to Sydney Pitt administration Plymouth port Portsmouth Privy Council provisions Real Story Record group Rio de Janeiro Ross Royal Navy sailed Scarborough scurvy sent September 1786 settlement ship’s ships Shortland sick Sirius Sirius and Supply SLNSW South Wales Steele surgeon Teer to Navy Tench Tenerife told Treasury USNA Victualling voyage wine women wrote