Okla-homey
1/26/2011, 06:46 AM
January 26, 1788: Australia Day
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/407/australiadaynationallogom3.jpg
213 years ago today, on January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2919/aust2204governorlgtv3.jpg
Arthur Phillip
Australia, once known as New South Wales, was originally planned as a penal colony. In October 1786, the British government appointed Arthur Phillip captain of HMS Sirius, and commissioned him to establish an agricultural work camp there for British convicts.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3122/aussirius203ji0.jpg
HMS Sirius
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9260/austprinceofwalesjf5.jpg
HMS Prince of Wales, Convict Transport, had but 1 male convict amongst her 49 female convicts.
With little idea of what he could expect from the mysterious and distant land, Phillip had great difficulty assembling the fleet that was to make the journey. His requests for more experienced farmers to assist the penal colony were repeatedly denied, and he was both poorly funded and outfitted.
Nonetheless, accompanied by a small contingent of Royal Marines and other officers, Phillip led his 1,000-strong party, of whom more than 700 were convicts, around Africa to the eastern side of Australia. In all, the voyage lasted eight months, claiming the deaths of some 30 men.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9959/33023720za4.png
Phillip raises the Union Jack after making land with his convict fleet
The first years of settlement were nearly disastrous. Cursed with poor soil, an unfamiliar climate and workers who were ignorant of farming, Phillip had great difficulty keeping the men alive. The colony was on the verge of outright starvation for several years, and the Marines sent to keep order were not up to the task.
Phillip, who proved to be a tough but fair-minded leader, persevered by appointing convicts to positions of responsibility and oversight. Floggings and hangings were commonplace, but so was egalitarianism. As Phillip said before leaving England: "In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slaves."
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4065/australian20convictds5.png
There would be several subsequent shipments of convicts. It wasn't a death sentence, because most survived, but it did mean those transported would never see home or family again.
Though Phillip returned to England in 1792, the colony became prosperous by the turn of the 19th century. Feeling a new sense of patriotism, the men began to rally around January 26 as their founding day. Historian Manning Clarke noted that in 1808 the men observed the "anniversary of the foundation of the colony" with "drinking and merriment."
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9815/austgagsbeerissogoodinanf3.jpg
Finally, in 1818, January 26 became an official holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of British settlement in Australia. And, as Australia became a sovereign nation, it became the national holiday known as Australia Day.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/386/76670285ge4.png
Today, Australia Day serves as a day of celebration for the founding of the British settlement. .
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3412/bandacdcis7.jpg
One of Australia's most popular musical exports
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2479/australiaday1ey2.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/637/insane7zoao4.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/407/australiadaynationallogom3.jpg
213 years ago today, on January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2919/aust2204governorlgtv3.jpg
Arthur Phillip
Australia, once known as New South Wales, was originally planned as a penal colony. In October 1786, the British government appointed Arthur Phillip captain of HMS Sirius, and commissioned him to establish an agricultural work camp there for British convicts.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3122/aussirius203ji0.jpg
HMS Sirius
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9260/austprinceofwalesjf5.jpg
HMS Prince of Wales, Convict Transport, had but 1 male convict amongst her 49 female convicts.
With little idea of what he could expect from the mysterious and distant land, Phillip had great difficulty assembling the fleet that was to make the journey. His requests for more experienced farmers to assist the penal colony were repeatedly denied, and he was both poorly funded and outfitted.
Nonetheless, accompanied by a small contingent of Royal Marines and other officers, Phillip led his 1,000-strong party, of whom more than 700 were convicts, around Africa to the eastern side of Australia. In all, the voyage lasted eight months, claiming the deaths of some 30 men.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9959/33023720za4.png
Phillip raises the Union Jack after making land with his convict fleet
The first years of settlement were nearly disastrous. Cursed with poor soil, an unfamiliar climate and workers who were ignorant of farming, Phillip had great difficulty keeping the men alive. The colony was on the verge of outright starvation for several years, and the Marines sent to keep order were not up to the task.
Phillip, who proved to be a tough but fair-minded leader, persevered by appointing convicts to positions of responsibility and oversight. Floggings and hangings were commonplace, but so was egalitarianism. As Phillip said before leaving England: "In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slaves."
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4065/australian20convictds5.png
There would be several subsequent shipments of convicts. It wasn't a death sentence, because most survived, but it did mean those transported would never see home or family again.
Though Phillip returned to England in 1792, the colony became prosperous by the turn of the 19th century. Feeling a new sense of patriotism, the men began to rally around January 26 as their founding day. Historian Manning Clarke noted that in 1808 the men observed the "anniversary of the foundation of the colony" with "drinking and merriment."
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9815/austgagsbeerissogoodinanf3.jpg
Finally, in 1818, January 26 became an official holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of British settlement in Australia. And, as Australia became a sovereign nation, it became the national holiday known as Australia Day.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/386/76670285ge4.png
Today, Australia Day serves as a day of celebration for the founding of the British settlement. .
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3412/bandacdcis7.jpg
One of Australia's most popular musical exports
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2479/australiaday1ey2.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/637/insane7zoao4.jpg