THE FIRST FLEET
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THE FIRST FLEET

The first 11 ships that set off together to establish the first settlement in The Great South Land have become known as the First Fleet.

These 11 ships carried enough supplies to keep 759 convicts, their Marine guards....some with families...until they became self-sufficient.   That means until they had started farms and grew or raised their own food supplies and built shelters.
The Leader of this fleet was Captain Arthur Phillip.

The Fleet left England on 13 May 1787 for the new land.
Twenty-three died during the long voyage....but this was much fewer than the number of deaths on later transportation fleets.

Click on this map to see the route the Fleet took.MAP
Now you should look at this site, which gives you a brief outline of the voyage in journal form  The Voyage.

THE SHIPS

Whenever you see this symbol ,  it indicates a printable activity page.

Print out the activity page now
Here is your task.
Look at the pictures of the 11 ships in the First Fleet at these two sites and on the activity sheet write a) the name of each ship b) what type of ship ( e.g. transport ship, a supply ship ) c) the number of female and male convicts each carried ( if any).     Supply ships did not carry convicts.

The Ships       The Ships ( Click on each ship for the details )  The Ships

THE PROVISIONS

You will need to print out this activity sheet before going further.

Then you should,  on your activity sheet,  make an estimation of how many of these of these things were brought out to the New Land on the First Fleet.

Here are the articles: 
               a) pianos   b) fish hooks   c) barrels of flour   d) women's handkerchiefs   e) camp kettles
f) garden hoes   g) tin plates   h ) carts   i) wooden bowls   j) wheel barrows

After you have completed that, go to the site below and check on the actual number to add to your activity sheet.

Livestock and Provisions

Here is the next activity sheet to print out

On that Activity Sheet you will be asked to find out how many of each type of animal was brought out on the First fleet.   See the above link to Livestock and Provisions.

Print out this next activity sheet.

You task here is to locate how many of each these articles was brought out on the First Fleet and write a sentence explaining what you think they might have been used for in the new settlement.  Refer to the Livestock and Provisions link above.

THE CONVICTS

Here are some terms to explain what some of the crimes were for which convicts were transported to Australia.

perjury.....lying under oath when one has sworn to tell the truth.
fraud.....impersonation to gain money.  An example might be when one sailor says he is another sailor and signs to collect the other's  wages.
forgery.....making false money or signing someone else's signature.
sacrilege.....destroying of religious objects.
highway robbery.....any robbery taking place on a public street or in a public place.
theft.....stealing
burglary.....in those days that referred to entering a building while it was occupied and stealing.
housebreaking.....in those days that referred to entering an unoccupied building  for stealing or any other reason.
larceny......stealing.
Old Bailey.....is the court in London where convicts were sentenced.

Use this activity sheet to make a list of transportable crimes

You can find these here Transportable Crimes    

You will need an activity sheet before you read further.

Here you will find a database of all the convicts on the First Fleet.
On your activity sheet,  write down the names of eight different convicts and their crimes, making sure you find eight different types of crimes.
Database of Convicts  ( Click on names of convicts in the First Fleet )

Click here for your next activity sheet

You will need to look at this next  site  to answer these questions on your activity sheet.

What Kind Of Criminal?   

The music that is playing is called "Botany Bay"
To see the words of this song click here.....Botany Bay

Click on the anchor to go to The Arrival

Credit For Graphics used:

Background:  Friends Plus Great Aussie Image Collection
Sound ( Midi) :  This tune is "Botany Bay" performed by Lesley Nelson at Songs Of The Sea
Anchor:  Nautical Clip Art
Ship Line:  AIconsWWW
Sailor at Wheel:   Jo's World
Australia Line: Friends Plus Great Aussie Image Collection
Barrel, convict, ball and chain:  J.O.D's Old fashioned Clipart
Animated Australia Button:   Friends Plus Great Aussie Image Collection
Ship:   Nautical Clip Art