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
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Page 32
... land set apart for them, and which they will be put in possession of at the expiration of the time for which they are transported'. And he wanted to know 'how far I may permit the seamen and marines of the garrison to cultivate spots of ...
... land set apart for them, and which they will be put in possession of at the expiration of the time for which they are transported'. And he wanted to know 'how far I may permit the seamen and marines of the garrison to cultivate spots of ...
Page 33
... lands in the following amounts: thirty acres to a single male; twenty more acres if married; and ten acres for each ... land. He was, as opportunity arose, to bring women from the Pacific Islands, but he was to see that the officers in ...
... lands in the following amounts: thirty acres to a single male; twenty more acres if married; and ten acres for each ... land. He was, as opportunity arose, to bring women from the Pacific Islands, but he was to see that the officers in ...
Page 37
... Majesty's forces by sea or land'. It was 'to proceed in a more summary way that is used within this realm' – that is, by calling such offenders respectively before that court, and causing 37 The Colony: Society, Law and Governance.
... Majesty's forces by sea or land'. It was 'to proceed in a more summary way that is used within this realm' – that is, by calling such offenders respectively before that court, and causing 37 The Colony: Society, Law and Governance.
Page 38
... lands, houses, tenements, and hereditaments, and all manner of interests therein, and all pleas of debt, account, or other contracts, trespasses, and all manner of other personal pleas whatsoever'. It had the power to 'grant probates of ...
... lands, houses, tenements, and hereditaments, and all manner of interests therein, and all pleas of debt, account, or other contracts, trespasses, and all manner of other personal pleas whatsoever'. It had the power to 'grant probates of ...
Page 40
... land'. He might proclaim martial law in war or other emergencies, and 'erect, raise and build ... such and so many forts and platforms, castles, cities, boroughs, towns and fortifications' as he should judge necessary. In wartime, he ...
... land'. He might proclaim martial law in war or other emergencies, and 'erect, raise and build ... such and so many forts and platforms, castles, cities, boroughs, towns and fortifications' as he should judge necessary. In wartime, he ...
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