The First Fleet

The First Fleet In 1788-1868 more than one hundred and sixty thousand men were transported from Britain to (what was then) Botany Bay, New Holland. They traveled in terrible conditions and came in many sailing ships in which the voyage sometimes took as long as ten months but rarely took as many as eight or nine. They came to Botany bay because of the good climate and friendly citizens although originally thinking the land shabby …

…work in certain areas. Weak and sick from the voyage, the convicts were poor workers and it was arduous work, even for fit men. The few tools they had to use were not suited to the tough conditions and some were lost or broken deliberately so that the men could avoid work. Hundreds of trees had to be cut down and dragged away; the timber had to be shaped with axes and built into huts.