Reasons for the establishment of a British penal colony at New South Wales
Explore reasons for establishment
Timeline of events
The earliest formal proposal came from James Matra.
Document: Proposal for Establishing a Settlement in New South Wales (1783)
Submitted to Lord Sydney with assistance from Evan Nepean.
Matra proposed:
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Settlement at Botany Bay
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American Loyalists and British convicts as settlers
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Strategic naval base
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Trade opportunities including fur, flax and spices
This document directly influenced the government of William Pitt the Younger.
Formal instructions issued to Arthur Phillip on 25 April 1787.
These include:
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Establish colony
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Maintain order
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Allocate land
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Govern convicts
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Harmonious relations with Aboriginal people
Between 1785–1786, the plan gained momentum under:
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William Pitt the Younger
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Lord Sydney
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Evan Nepean
Key drivers:
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American colonies lost after the American Revolution
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Prison overcrowding in Britain
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Need for a new transportation destination
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Failure of penal settlements in Africa
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Strategic naval base in the Pacific
The closest thing to an official decision is:
18 August 1786 – Cabinet Decision
The British Government formally approves:
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Establishment of a penal colony at Botany Bay
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Transportation of convicts
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Appointment of a governor
This is recorded in Home Office correspondence.
Official step confirming the decision:
12 September 1786 — Arthur Phillip was appointed:
"Captain Arthur Phillip is appointed Governor of the intended colony at NSW."
Official government instructions (1787)
Governor appointment (1786)
Official decision (1786)
Treasury & Cabinet considerations (1785–1786)
James Matra's proposal (1783) — The starting point
Source: A Proposal for Establishing a Colony in New South Wales” (1783)
Author: James Matra
Links:
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Page 1 of proposal here - Page: History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1. - Wikisource, the free online library
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Remaining proposal and Letter to Joseph Banks taken from book
Source type: Primary
About
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James Matra (1746–1806) sailed with Captain James Cook aboard the Endeavour in 1770.
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In August 1783, he proposed establishing a British settlement in New South Wales.
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His original proposal focused on trade, economic opportunities and providing a new home for American Loyalists following the American Revolution.
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In 1784, his proposal was expanded to include transporting British convicts.
Reasons for establishing a colony in New South Wales (1783–1785)
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Trade: Expand British trade with Asia and the Pacific.
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Resources: Grow valuable crops and obtain timber and flax for British industries.
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American Loyalists: Provide a new home for people displaced by the American Revolution.
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Military advantage: Establish a naval base to strengthen Britain's influence in the Pacific.
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Settlement: Send marines, skilled workers, livestock and supplies to establish farms and infrastructure.
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Convicts: Transport British prisoners to reduce prison costs and develop a productive settlement.
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Security: Use marines, a guard ship and strict discipline to control the colony.
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Aboriginal Peoples: Matra assumed the land was available for British settlement, disregarding Aboriginal ownership and sovereignty.
Key takeaway: Matra's proposal shows that Britain considered economic, strategic and political advantages, as well as convict transportation, when planning a colony in New South Wales.
JAMES MATRA
Arthur Phillip
Source: The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay (1789)
Author: Arthur Phillip and other First Fleet officers
Link: The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay | University of Sydney Library
Source type: Primary
(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
Reasons for establishing a colony in New South Wales
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British claim: Britain claimed the eastern coast of Australia following Captain Cook's 1770 voyage, disregarding Aboriginal ownership and sovereignty.
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Loss of American colonies: The American Revolution ended Britain's established practice of transporting convicts to America.
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Failed alternatives: Prison hulks, imprisonment and hard labour proved inadequate, while other transportation destinations were investigated.
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Overcrowding and costs: Britain needed a more effective way to manage its growing convict population.
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Convict rehabilitation: Transportation was intended to encourage hard work, reform offenders and make them productive members of society.
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Colonial development: Convict labour could help establish and develop a new British settlement.
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Choice of New South Wales: Britain selected the eastern coast of New Holland as a distant destination where convicts could be put to work.
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Government approval: Orders were issued in December 1786, with legislation establishing legal arrangements for the colony in 1787.
Key takeaway: The account presents New South Wales as a solution to Britain's convict transportation problem, combining punishment, rehabilitation and colonial expansion.
SEE FULL PRIMARY SOURCE ARTICLE: ARTHUR PHILLIP
Prof S.H. Roberts
Source: Sydney Morning Herald ~ 150th anniversary of Australia, 1938
Author: Professor SH Roberts
Link: p2 - 24 Jan 1938 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - Trove
Source type: Secondary
Professor S. H. Roberts — Reasons for establishing a British penal colony (1938)
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Overcrowded prisons: Roberts reported that Britain had 100,000 convicts in 1787, including 40,000 awaiting transportation.
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Loss of America: The American Revolution ended Britain's established system of transporting convicts to American colonies.
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High prison costs: Maintaining prisoners in British gaols and prison hulks was expensive.
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Economic benefits: Transportation was considered cheaper, with the expectation that convicts could eventually support themselves.
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Failed alternatives: Africa had high death rates, while Newfoundland was considered unsuitable for large numbers of convicts.
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Harsh criminal laws: Property offences attracted severe penalties, and poverty and social inequality contributed to crime.
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Convict backgrounds: Roberts argued that although some people were transported for minor offences, many had committed more serious crimes.
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Punishment and reform: Transportation offered some prisoners an alternative to execution and an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
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Choice of Botany Bay: Britain selected New South Wales as a distant destination for convicts, assuming the land could support a settlement.
Key takeaway: Roberts argued that Britain's overcrowded prisons, the loss of American transportation destinations and the financial advantages of transportation were the main reasons for establishing the penal colony in 1788.
SEE FULL PRIMARY SOURCE ARTICLE: PROF SH ROBERTS
John Hunter
About
John Hunter (1737–1821) was a British naval officer, explorer and colonial administrator who arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. He became the second Governor of New South Wales, serving from September 1795 to September 1800, succeeding Arthur Phillip.
"... On the 25th: of October 1786 His Majesties Ship Sirius was Commission’d, & the Command given to Cap’n Arthur Phillip... It being the intention of Government at this time, to remove so great a Nuisance & inconvenience as the Country at present Sufford from the Goals being so exceedingly Crouded with Criminals who had been by the Laws Condemn’d to Transportation; the East coast of New Holland was the place determind, upon which to form a Settlement for this Salutary purpose; and the above Ships were intended as an Escort to the Transports which were to Convey the Convicts to that Country, and which were at this time fitting & in Considerable forewardnes for that Service. The East Coast of New Holland is that Country which was discover’d and Explor’d by Captain James Cook in his first Voyage round the World, and by him Calld New South Wales, Botany Bay the only place he enterd with the Ship which coud be Calld a Harbor, having been mention’d in the Narrative of that Voyage, as a Convenient place for a Settlement, Government fixd upon that place for the intended purpose..."
"... On the 25th: of October 1786 His Majesties Ship Sirius was Commission’d, & the Command given to Cap’n Arthur Phillip... It being the intention of Government at this time, to remove so great a Nuisance & inconvenience as the Country at present Sufford from the Goals being so exceedingly Crouded with Criminals who had been by the Laws Condemn’d to Transportation; the East coast of New Holland was the place determind, upon which to form a Settlement for this Salutary purpose; and the above Ships were intended as an Escort to the Transports which were to Convey the Convicts to that Country, and which were at this time fitting & in Considerable forewardnes for that Service. The East Coast of New Holland is that Country which was discover’d and Explor’d by Captain James Cook in his first Voyage round the World, and by him Calld New South Wales, Botany Bay the only place he enterd with the Ship which coud be Calld a Harbor, having been mention’d in the Narrative of that Voyage, as a Convenient place for a Settlement, Government fixd upon that place for the intended purpose...
