Why did the first fleet choose to land at Sydney Cove rather than Botany Bay?

Sir Joseph Banks (1743–1820) had recommended the site after travelling on the ship HM Bark Endeavour with the explorer Captain James Cook (1728–1779). However, Phillip perceived Botany Bay to be unsuitable for a settlement because of his belief that the area had poor soil, no safe anchorage and no reliable fresh water.

Why did they choose Australia for settlement?

The usual explanation is that with the American colonies revolting in 1776, Britain had been deprived of its outlet for the criminals that were overfilling its goals, and so Australia was chosen as the new location for its overseas prison.

How did the settlement of Sydney Cove affect the indigenous people?

In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip and 1,500 convicts, crew, marines and civilians arrived at Sydney Cove. In the 10 years that followed, it’s estimated that the Indigenous population of Australia was reduced by 90\%. Three main reasons for this dramatic population decline were: The introduction of new diseases.

What is Sydney Cove called today?

Circular Quay
Present-day Sydney Cove is still the city’s heart, though it is now more commonly known as Circular Quay. The early history of Sydney was grimly dominated by its existence as a British penal colony.

What were the reasons for settlement in Port Macquarie?

In 1821, Port Macquarie was founded as a penal settlement, replacing Newcastle as the destination for convicts who had committed secondary crimes in New South Wales.

Why did the early settlers suffer from hunger?

By May 1788, the fledgling colony was experiencing severe food shortages. Many of the cattle that had been brought on the First Fleet had wandered off into the bush. Some of these animals were still being found seven years later. The shortage of food in the colony was exacerbated by the failure of the wheat crop.

Why was Port Jackson chosen for settlement?

Early settlement We got into Port Jackson early in the afternoon, and had the satisfaction of finding the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security.

Why was Port Macquarie chosen as the area of settlement?

Macquarie favoured the site at Port Macquarie as he had been given a favourable report on the area from the Surveyor General, and its distance from Sydney made it ideal as a second place of punishment for convicts of the worst character (1).

What were the reasons for settlement in Port Phillip?

King decided to establish a convict settlement at Port Phillip, mainly to stake a claim to southern Australia ahead of the French. The original settlement was established in 1803 at Sullivan Bay, very close to today’s coastal township of Sorrento. It survived for just seven months, and was abandoned in 1804.

Why did John Oxley settle in Port Macquarie?

Discovered by John Oxley in 1818 and named after the Governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, our first visitors were convicts sent to the Port Macquarie penal settlement in 1821 to serve time for secondary offences. The town was built by those convicts and overseen by military officers of the 48th Regiment.