Struggles within the New Colony
First days in the new settlement
This new settlement had many problems from the start. Few of the convicts knew how to farm and the soil around Sydney Cove was poor. The country was hot, dry and unfertile, unsuitable for the small farming necessary to make the settlement self-sufficient. Everyone, including the Colony's first Governor, Captain Arthur Phillip, was on rationed food. Aborigines and the European settlers were wary of each other. They spoke different languages and had little understanding of each other’s cultures. They could therefore only communicate with each other in a rudimentary way. Unlike the newcomers, the aborigines did not find the environment harsh or difficult. They lived very well in this environment; it had been their home for a long time. They knew very well which local plants were nutritious, where they grew and when to eat them. They fished and trapped animals with ease. The settlers found the local plants hard to eat. As well, they were generally poor fishermen. As a result, most of their food had to be brought to the new colony by ship. Animals such as rats, dogs, crows, an occasional kangaroo or emu supplemented the food. Shelter was also a problem. The new arrivals had few building materials and tools, which were of a bad quality. The local trees were large hardwoods and the tools were soon blunt or broken. As a result, building construction was slow
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Early struggles in the new colony
Over the next six months, the settlement was isolated from the rest of the world. All the ships except the Naval vessels "Syrius" and "Supply" had left. These two vessels were sent out to try to deal with the food shortage. In early October the "Syrius" was sent to Cape Town to buy food. Until she returned six months later, the supply of food was reduced further. This led to work on farming and building also being reduced. During this time the "Supply" took a small group of convicts and marines to Norfolk Island to set up another penal colony. This was done to reduce the demand on the food supplies at Sydney Cove. The land there was more fertile than at Sydney Cove and the timber of better quality. The rocky cliffs around the island, however, made it difficult to load the ship for transport back to Sydney Cove. Green turtles were caught and taken back to feed the Sydney Covers.
In February 1790 the "Syrius" was wrecked off Norfolk Island, while again taking convicts to Norfolk Island. This left the colony with just the "Supply". In April, she was sent to Batavia to by more supplies as the colony had only three months supply of food left. Four months later the Second Fleet arrived. These ships brought more convicts and much needed provisions for the colony. The supply of food improved and so did the work that was done. New buildings were completed and large areas of land near Rose Hill were cleared for cultivation. After more than two years of isolation and near starvation, the settlement at Sydney Cove began to grow. A year long drought in late 1791 held back farming and food continue to remain a major problem until it finished.
Source: www.education.vic.gov.au
In February 1790 the "Syrius" was wrecked off Norfolk Island, while again taking convicts to Norfolk Island. This left the colony with just the "Supply". In April, she was sent to Batavia to by more supplies as the colony had only three months supply of food left. Four months later the Second Fleet arrived. These ships brought more convicts and much needed provisions for the colony. The supply of food improved and so did the work that was done. New buildings were completed and large areas of land near Rose Hill were cleared for cultivation. After more than two years of isolation and near starvation, the settlement at Sydney Cove began to grow. A year long drought in late 1791 held back farming and food continue to remain a major problem until it finished.
Source: www.education.vic.gov.au
Colonial LifeLife in the New South Wales colony was hard. We are going to have a look at some of the parts of people's lives.
Food The settlers only had the food they had brought, when they arrived. Eventually they had vegetables from crops, and there was lots of seafood. Entertainment There was not very much entertainment in the early days. Some enjoyment came from horse racing, cricket, boxing and music. Houses People lived in tents when they first arrived. See image 3. The governor's house was then built in brick. The soldiers lived in small wooden homes. Convicts lived in 'barracks', where they all were together.There was no running water or bathrooms. They cooked on open fires. Work Convicts worked on the land removing trees, building houses and farms, and building roads. Other people worked as labourers, farmers, builders and traders. |