I have nothing plan at all for today.
Explanation for non-Australians about the origins of Australia Day.
On 26 January 1788 the 11 ships of the First Fleet were anchored in Botany Bay. These ships had arrived between 19-26 January. Together they carried about 1400 people of whom more than half were convicts. The ships has sailed from Britain on 13 May 1787.
It was decided that Botany Bay was not a good place to settle. Water was scarce and the soil was poor. On the 21 Jan a party led by Governor Arthur Philip set out in three small boats looking for a better site to settle. They decided on Port Jackson which was 12 miles north of Botany Bay and an excellent site for settlement.
On the 26 January the Fleet weighed anchor and sailed to Port Jackson. Later that day Governor Philip planted the British Flag and named the settlement Sydney Cove.
Over the next couple of years the colony struggled and until the Second Fleet arrived in 1790 the threat of starvation was a real possibility.
Edited to add - one of my ancestors, John Wood, arrived in Australia with the Third Fleet (arrived 13 Oct 1791). If anyone is interested, details about John Wood are
here. I am a descendant of his daughter Ann.
Hope you all have a great day.
Sure thing!
