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 18
... settlement on the coast of New South Wales • Staff establishment for the settlement at New South Wales • Messrs Turnbull, Macaulay and T. Gregory's letter of 21 August 1786 (offering to contract for the venture)2 • List of the tools ...
... settlement on the coast of New South Wales • Staff establishment for the settlement at New South Wales • Messrs Turnbull, Macaulay and T. Gregory's letter of 21 August 1786 (offering to contract for the venture)2 • List of the tools ...
Page 19
... settlement from the neighbourhood will amount to one thousand, and that a quantity equal to two years consumption must be provided for them over and above the provisions for the convicts during the voyage. Acquaint the Commissioners of ...
... settlement from the neighbourhood will amount to one thousand, and that a quantity equal to two years consumption must be provided for them over and above the provisions for the convicts during the voyage. Acquaint the Commissioners of ...
Page 20
... settlement. (Attached to this request was the advice that these would 'be properly victualled by a commissary immediately after their landing', a proviso which was to cause considerable trouble before the Fleet sailed.) The marines ...
... settlement. (Attached to this request was the advice that these would 'be properly victualled by a commissary immediately after their landing', a proviso which was to cause considerable trouble before the Fleet sailed.) The marines ...
Page 21
... settlement at Botany, on the east side of New Holland, in the Indian seas, for the reception of male and female felons sentenced by the laws of this country to transportation'; and it offered a very detailed description of the Botany ...
... settlement at Botany, on the east side of New Holland, in the Indian seas, for the reception of male and female felons sentenced by the laws of this country to transportation'; and it offered a very detailed description of the Botany ...
Page 22
... settlement was to be Norfolk Island rather than Botany Bay. The StJames's Chronicle was the first to say so, followed by the Daily Universal Register. The latter paper also subsequently reported that one ship would sail ahead to the ...
... settlement was to be Norfolk Island rather than Botany Bay. The StJames's Chronicle was the first to say so, followed by the Daily Universal Register. The latter paper also subsequently reported that one ship would sail ahead to the ...
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