Resources transported with the First Fleet using sources as evidence

CAPTAIN ARTHUR PHILLIP

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As commander of the First Fleet, Arthur Phillip was concerned that the ships carried enough food, clothing and medical supplies to protect the health of the convicts and marines during the long voyage. Before departure, he repeatedly requested additional provisions, including medicines and foods to help prevent scurvy.

The Fleet also restocked throughout the voyage. At Tenerife, fresh water, meat, fruit and vegetables were obtained. At Rio de Janeiro, the ships took on rice, vegetables, rum and cassava, as well as seeds and plants intended for the new settlement, including coffee, indigo and cotton.

At the Cape of Good Hope, supplies for establishing the colony became particularly important. The Fleet collected provisions and livestock, eventually carrying more than 500 animals, mainly poultry. The number of animals aboard was so great that the ships were compared to “Noah’s ark.”

Phillip’s account shows that the First Fleet carried much more than people. Food, medicines, livestock, seeds, plants and other provisions were essential both for surviving the voyage and for establishing the new colony in New South Wales.​

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Source: The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay - 1789

Author: Captain Arthur Phillip and Others

Link: The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay | University of Sydney Library​

Source type: Primary

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 (The original private journal of Governor Arthur Phillip is not known to survive in full, apart from 20-page fragment, which is available online in digitised form through the University of Sydney, compiled from authentic papers, and the journals of Lieuts. Shortland, Watts, Ball and Capt. Marshall.)Useful for: The First Fleet voyage, reasons for colonisation, and the establishment of the colony

About

Captain Arthur Phillip RN was the commander of the First Fleet and commissioned as the first Governor of New South Wales. He set sail on May 13, 1787, from Portsmouth with 11 vessels [Alexander, Lady Penrhyn, Charlotte, Scarborough, Friendship, Prince of Wales; supplies, equipment and livestock on Borrowdale, Fishburn, Golden Grove; navy ships, man-o’-war Sirius and armed tender Supply]. He arrived in NSW with 717 convicts of whom 180 were women, guarded by 191 marines under 19 officers. 

Selected excerpts

The sailing of the First Fleet was delayed while Arthur Phillip fought for enough food and clothing for the convicts, and for supplies of medicines and protective food against scurvy. He wrote to the Home Office before the fleet sailed: ​

“Though I have so often solicited that essence of malt or some anti-scorbutic be allowed, I cannot help once more repeating the necessity of it, and, putting the convicts out of the question, which humanity forbids, the sending of the marines on board the transports such a voyage as they are going, in a worse state than ever troops were sent out of the kingdom, even to the nearest garrison (for taking off the tonnage for the provision of stores, they have not one ton and a half a man) cannot, I am certain, be the intention of his Majesty’s ministers…”

Teneriffe - Fresh water , meat and vegetables​

"…The chief object proposed by Governor Phillip in touching at Teneriffe (3 June 1787 - stayed for a week), was the obtaining a fresh supply of water and vegetables. It was advisable also at this period to give the people such advantages and refreshments, for the sake of health, as this place would readily supply, but which can only be obtained on shore. In this, and every port, the crews, soldiers, and convicts, were indulged with fresh meat, fruit, vegetables, and every thing which could conduce to preserve them from the complaints formerly inevitable in long voyages. The allowance was, to the marines, a pound of bread, a pound of beef, and a pint of wine per man, daily: the convicts had three quarters of a pound of beef, and of bread, but no wine. The fruits obtained here were only figs and mulberries, but these were plentiful and excellent..."

Rio de Janeiro - restock

"…Provisions were here so cheap, that notwithstanding the allowance of meat was fixed by Governor Phillip at twenty ounces a day, the men were victualled completely, rice, fresh vegetables, and firing included, at three-pence three-farthings a head. Wine was not at this season to be had, except from the retail dealers, less was therefore purchased than would otherwise have been taken. Rum, however, was laid in; and all such seeds and plants procured as were thought likely to flourish on the coast of New South Wales, particularly coffee, indigo, cotton, and the cochineal fig.” As a substitute for bread, if it should become scarce, one hundred sacks of cassada were purchased at a very advantageous price...."

Cape of Good Hope - restock​

"…In the course of a month, the live stock and other provisions were procured; and the ships, having on board not less than five hundred animals of different kinds, but chiefly poultry, put on an appearance which naturally enough excited the idea of Noah’s ark.."

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