While Captain James Cook is credited as one of the first recorded Europeans to make contact with Australia, it was his fellow Navy man, Captain Arthur Phillip, who changed the course of history when he landed in Botany Bay with the First Fleet in 1788.
Phillip had set sail from Portsmouth, England in 1787 on the HMS Sirius. His grand fleet consisted of 11 ships carrying 1,487 souls, including 748 convicts. The fleet was armed with supplies and orders to establish a colony when they eventually reached their destination. Travelling half way around the globe for 252 days, the fleet eventually arrived at Botany Bay on January 18 the following year.
Phillip and his crew were initially told the area was perfect for 11 ships full of criminals to set up shop as a penal colony. They quickly discovered the area was void of clean, drinkable water and was severely lacking in shelter to protect its newest residents. The crew faced further problems when they realised the water was simply too shallow for all 11 ships to safely dock.
Unimpressed, the fleet continued on their journey and arrived in Sydney Cove in Port Jackson on January 26 — the day we now celebrate as Australia Day.
Setting up base in Sydney, Phillip initially struggled to create a viable colony, according to Australian Geographic. He received little support from the British government, but slowly and surely turned Sydney into a working city. In 1790, the Second Fleet arrived, while the Third Fleet trickled in from 1791. A year later, the colony was thriving, with trades flourishing and criminals learning how to farm. Phillip left Australia in 1792, when the population had grown to 4,221 people.
While Australia Day and its origins continue to be a topic of contention for many Australians, a study released earlier this year found many people don’t actually know much about the history of our country.
In a study conducted by the Australia Institute, 1,417 Australians were quizzed about their views on Australia Day and how the nation as we know it now was formed. Results found that 77 per cent of people incorrectly stated that Australia Day had always been held on January 26, and just 38 per cent correctly explained that the day marks the anniversary of the First Fleet landing at Sydney Cove.
Furthermore, 49 per cent of respondents thought the day shouldn’t be held on a date that is offensive to Indigenous people, while 36 per cent said it shouldn’t matter. Interestingly, 37 per cent of people suggested that January 26 is an offensive date, while 46 per cent didn’t believe that there was anything harmful or wrong about the current date.