Opportunities for Early Colonial Growth
Sealing: Australia's First Export IndustryIn 1805, convicts establish outposts on the remote fringes of Bass Strait to begin what will become Australia’s first export industry.
Convicts establish outposts on the remote fringes of Bass Strait to begin what will become Australia’s first export industry. The industry is worth millions - seal pelts will clothe Britain’s finest and seal oil will light the lamps of London. Watch the video to learn more. (Source: https://au.tv.yahoo.com/the-story-of-us/episodes) |
Macarthur and the MerinoA pioneer of the wool industry in Australia was the pastoralist John Macarthur. Macarthur and his wife arrived in the colony in 1790 where he served as a captain in the New South Wales Corps. In 1793, Macarthur was granted 100 acres of land (known as Elizabeth Farm) near Parramatta. The following year, the promising sheep and wheat farmer was rewarded with another 100 acres in return for being the first person to clear and cultivate 50 acres.
Macarthur recognised a potential profit in exporting wool. Not only was there a strong demand for wool in England and Europe, but it was also inexpensive to produce and transport overseas. While a wool export industry in New South Wales seemed a lucrative option, producing export-quality wool seemed almost impossible when the colony was still struggling to maintain the health of their flocks. Macarthur, an astute pastoralist, identified that many European animals imported to Australia were not thriving because they were unsuited to the semi-arid climate. In 1796, Macarthur and his wife commenced overcoming this problem by purchasing imported Merinos. Merinos are a breed of sheep prized for their heavy fleece and fine wool. Originally bred in the warm climate of Spain, these Merinos flourished in Australia. In the years which followed the export of the Macarthurs' first bale, woollen mills in England continued to buy as much Merino wool from New South Wales as they could. The reason for the prosperity of the Australian wool industry, however, was not only because the Australian Merino wool was of high quality. (Sourece: Skwirk.com) |
Mining of CoalThe establishment and growth of British colonies in Australia coincided with the coal-driven Industrial Revolution in Britain. British colonists sought to recreate British conditions in Australia, and this in turn required the use of coal.
Coal was first discovered by Bass and Flinders in the area now known as Wollongong. Soon after, a seam was spotted north of Sydney on what was named Coal River. The resource here proved significant enough to establish a convict settlement in 1804, known as Newcastle on the Hunter River. Today, it is the biggest coal export facility in the world. By the 1830s, the coal industry had become established and so Australia’s first industrial town was born – Newcastle. The coal expansion led to the establishment of salt and lime production, iron, copper, brass, foundries, soap and candle works, cloth and flour mills. The first coal mines were operated by the colony of NSW using convict labour (Source: http://www.minerals.org.au/) |