FIRST FLEETERS
THE First Fleeters are an exclusive group.
All First Fleet Fellowship members have ancestors who sailed with Commodore Arthur Philip in 1788 as part of the first fleet to colonise NSW. Philip was also captain of HMS Sirius and Governor-Designate.
The first fleet arrived in dribs and drabs in Botany Bay from 18th January 1788 and then decamped to Sydney Harbour, near where Circular Quay is today, firing off a salute on 26th January 1788. After the salute the King’s instructions were proclaimed and making Philip Governor of the Colony of New South Wales.
The First Fleet consisted of 11 ships. The flotilla departed from Portsmouth, England, on 13th May 1787 to found the penal colony that became the first permanent European settlement in Australia. It carried convicts who had been confined in overcrowded floating prisons in ship hulks in the London Thames.
Establishment of a colony also had a strategic motive. It would result in the expansion of the British Empire in the South Pacific region.
The First Fleet consisted of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports, carrying about 1,500 convicts, marines, seamen, civil officers and free people. Accounts differ on the exact numbers as births and deaths occurred during the voyage. They also bought a large quantity of stores. They may have departed in a hurry as they didn’t bring nails, bricks or mortar for constructing houses or money for trading.
From England, the Fleet sailed southwest to Rio de Janeiro, then east to Cape Town and via the Great Southern Ocean to Botany Bay, arriving in 18th January 1788, taking 250 to 252 days from departure to final arrival. The trip was over 10,500 kilometres and took over eight months.
After pitching their tent city Philip later wrote to England stating Port Jackson is “the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security …”. He wrote from a leaky tent.
It is believed there were about 11 accounts of the voyage written by the on-board Surgeon and others.
Today’s First Fleet Fellowship members include 1,800 members. They do research and identify other first fleeters and publish bi-monthly newsletters, encouraging an on-going interest in Australian history generally. They keep a friendly eye on our history.
Their President is Jon Fearon, a former primary and secondary school history and geography teacher. Their Patron is former NSW Governor, Dame Marie Bashir, AD, CVO.
HQ is First Fleet House, a former 1920s grocery store at 105 Cathedral Street, Woolloomoolloo, on the site of a land grant to John Palmer. Palmer had arrived on the First Fleet.
Evidence of the first fleet is rare but the National Maritime Museum holds the Charlotte Medal, a silver medallion made on board depicting HMS Charlotte on one side with the an inscription on the other: “Sailed’ the Charlotte of London from the spite head the 13th May 1878 Bound for Botany Bay in the island of New Holland … arrived t Botany Bay 20th Jany …from great Britain Miles 13106”.
Mr Fearon says “History is important. It provides a link to our past, showing who we are and where we’ve come from. It gives us all a sense of belonging. It’s part of our ID.”
Their HQ has an extensive library of about 1,000 volumes including seven of the eleven known journals written on board on the voyage between 1787-1788 and early editions of The Sydney Gazette from 1803. Meetings are also attended by guest speakers.
For more information
Contact: Mr Jon Fearon, President, Fellowship of First Fleeters
First Fleet House, 105 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
Email: jfearon@iinet.net.au
Ph (02) 9360 3788
or 0243 116254 or mob: 0498 693 933
Email: fffaus@optusnet.com.au
