The First Fleet departed from Portsmouth, England on May 13th 1787 led by Captain Arthur Phillip. It carried over 1,487 people including 778 convicts to establish a British colony in New South Wales, Australia. The journey lasted 8 months and 1 week, arriving on January 26th with only 48 deaths. England sent convicts to Australia because America no longer accepted British convicts, and establishing a penal colony in New South Wales was seen as the solution. The First Fleet brought supplies needed for the new settlement like seeds, farming tools, and livestock.

1. The First Fleet
By Grace

2. How long did the journey take?
11 ships left Portsmouth, England on the 13th
of May 1787. Captain Arthur Phillip led the
boats. The boats carried officers, crew,
marines and their families also convicts. The
voyage finished on the 26th of January. The
voyage took eight months and one week.

3. How many didn’t
survive?
Only 48 people didn’t
survive in the first
group of ships.

4. Why did they send
convicts to Australia?
America refused to
accept any more
convicts, so England
had to find
somewhere else to
send their prisoners.
England thought that
sending convicts to
New South Wales
was the only
solution.

5. How many people were on the
First Fleet?
There were about 1,487 people,
including 778 convicts (192
woman and 586 men).

6. What did the First Fleet
take to Australia with
them?
The First Fleet brought
a variety of items
needed to start a new
settlement, such as
seeds, farm
implements, and farm
animals.

7. How did the First Fleet change the
lives of the Aboriginal people?
The First Fleet came and they
brought diseases and lots of
aboriginals died.

8. Why do some people think of settlers as
invaders?
Some people fought to get to England
and some people went peacefully. So the
people that were there were invaded so
much that they thought the settlers were
invaders.

9. What was the average age of
convicts sent to Australia?
The average age of convicts is 22.

10. Why did some convicts stay once
they had served their sentences?
Some couldn’t afford to go home
on the boat.
Some of the convicts
thought that they would have a
better life in Australia.