Australia's First Fleet

The First Fleet was the group of ships that carried convicts, soldiers, and supplies from Britain to Australia in 1787-1788, establishing the first European colony there. Comprising 11 ships, including the flagship HMS Sirius, it set sail to create a penal settlement in Botany Bay, later moving to Port Jackson (Sydney). This event marked the beginning of British colonization of Australia, transforming it from a land inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years into a European colony. The fleet's arrival directly influenced Australia's history, culture, and population development.