Original version

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Witness History: The First Fleet Lands in Australia

Magazines & Reviews

News

first fleet.jpg

26/01/2016 GMT

The First Fleet Lands in Australia

BBC World Service - Witness History, The First Fleet Lands in Australia

Britain established a penal colony in Australia.In January 1788

A British fleet established a penal colony in Australia in 1788. It was the first step towards claiming Australia as British territory.

A British fleet of 11 ships established a penal colony in Australia in 1788. It was the first step towards claiming Australia as a British territory. For the indigenous population, the arrival of British settlers brought violence and disease which would decimate the population.

(Photo: Royal Navy ships took 750 British convicts to New South Wales, where they established the first European settlement in Australia. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The First Fleet Lands in Australia

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service East Asia

About BBC World Service