Australia Day Sources (text version)

First Australia Day painting

Instructions

Thinking about the painting and the letters and journals, what can an historian tell from the painting?

How could the information be useful for an historian?

When did the event occur and when was the painting completed?

Why would this information be important to an historian?

Source: The Founding of Australia. By Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N. Sydney Cove, Jan 26th 1788 / Original (oil) sketch (1937) by Algernon Talmage R.A.

All the document extracts have audio. Click play to listen.

Coming ashore

Letter from Henry Waterhouse to his father, William Waterhouse, Sydney Cove, 11 July 1788

On the 27th … We went on shore at twelve oclock where the whole Battalion where assembled fir'd three Volleys & gave three cheers as did the Convicts who this day where allow'd liquor: At two oclock we where all assembled & had a most excellent dinner, after it was over the following Publick healths where drank with three Cheers & the band playing God save the King, - The King - The Queen & Royal Family - The Prince of Wales - Prince William Henry - His Majestys Ministers - The Cumberland Family

Transcript of audio file:

On the 27th we went on shore at twelve o’clock where the whole battalion where assembled, fired three volleys and gave three cheers; as did the convicts who this day where allowed liquor. At two o’clock we were all assembled and had a most excellent dinner. After it was over, the following public healths were drank with three cheers and the band playing God save the King, - The King - The Queen & Royal Family - The Prince of Wales - Prince William Henry - His Majesty’s Ministers - The Cumberland Family.

Flying the flag

the Governor then said he meant to name the County which he call'd the County of Cumberland which was drank - the Governor then went out & his health was drank likewise with three Cheers the healths & toasts then circulated briskly & most did honor to the day, we supp'd at 9 & went on board at 11

Transcript of audio file:

The Governor then said he meant to name the County which he called the County of Cumberland which was drank. The Governor then went out and his health was drank likewise with three cheers the healths and toasts then circulated briskly and most did honour to the day. We supped at 9 and went on board at 11.

Convicts ashore

the Convicts had made a most amazing fire & the day was concluded on all sids with great festivity, though I am affraid alarm'd the Nativs most terribly;

This day the Governor gave a free pardon to all offenders. Since that time two Convicts has been murder'd by the Nativs but we suppose the Convicts to have been the aggressors.

Transcript of audio file:

The convicts had made a most amazing fire and the day was concluded on all sides with great festivity, though I am afraid it alarmed the natives most terribly.

This day the Governor gave a free pardon to all offenders. Since that time two convicts have been murdered by the natives but we suppose the convicts to have been the aggressors.

Toasting the new colony

George Bouchier Worgan, letter written to his brother Richard Worgan, 12-18 June 1788

On the Evening of our Arrival (26th January 1788) The Governor & a Number of the Officers assembled on Shore where, they Displayed the British Flag and each Officer with a Heart, glowing with Loyalty drank his Majesty's Health and Success to the Colony. The next Day, all the Artificers & an 100 of the Convicts were landed, carrying with them the necessary Utensils for clearing the Ground and felling the Trees. By the Evening, they were able to pitch a Number of Tents and some Officers, and private Soldiers slept on shore that Evening.

Transcript of audio file:

On the evening of our arrival (26th January 1788), the Governor and a number of the officers assembled on shore where they displayed the British flag and each officer, with a heart glowing with loyalty, drank his Majesty's health and success to the colony. The next day, all the artificers and a 100 of the convicts were landed, carrying with them the necessary utensils for clearing the ground and felling the trees. By the evening, they were able to pitch a number of tents and some officers, and private soldiers slept on shore that evening.

The surgeon's observations (1)

A Journal of a voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn, Merchantman William Cropton Server, Commander by Arthur Bowes Smyth, Surgeon, Jan-Feb, 1788

This morng. at 11 o'Clock all who cd. leave the Ships were summon'd on Shore, to hear the Governor's Commission read; & also the Com- mission constituting the Court of Judicature. -- the Marines were all under arms & reed, the Governor wt. flying Colours & a Band of Music -- he was accompanied by the Judge Advocate, Lieut. Gover- nor, Clergiman, Serveyor General, Surgeon General &ca.

Transcript of audio file:

This morning at 11 o'clock, all who could leave the ships were summoned on shore to hear the Governor's Commission read and also the Commission constituting the Court of Judicature. The Marines were all under arms and received the Governor with flying colours and a band of music. He was accompanied by the Judge Advocate, Lieutenant Governor, Clergyman, Surveyor General, Surgeon General etc.

The surgeon's observations (2)

After taking off his hat & Compting. the Marine Officers, who had lower'd their Colours &: pd. that respect to him as Governor wh. he was intitled to,

the Soldiers marched wt. music playg. Drums & fifes & formed a circle round the whole of the Convict Men & Women, who were collected together --

The Convicts were all order'd to sit down on the ground; all Gentlemen present were desired to come into the Centre, where stood the Governor, Lieut. Governor, Judge Advocate, Clergyman, Surgeon &ca. &ca. –

Transcript of audio file:

After taking off his hat and counting the marine officers, who had lowered their colours and paid that respect to him as Governor which he was entitled to, the soldiers marched with music playing, drums and fifes, and formed a circle round the whole of the convict men and women, who were collected together.

The convicts were all ordered to sit down on the ground. All gentlemen present were desired to come into the centre, where stood the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Judge Advocate, Clergyman, Surgeon etc.

The surgeon's observations (3)

a Camp table was fixt before them & 2 red leather Cases laid thereon, containing the Commissions &ca. wh. were open'd & unsealed in the Sight of All present & read by the Judge Advocate (Capt. Collins) constituting Arthr. Philip Esqr. Governor General Commander in Chief over all those Territories, belonging to his Britannic Majesty Geo: Hid. King of Gt. Britn. France & Ireland & call'd New South Wales & Parts adjacent with full power & authority to build Forts, Castles & Towns, & to erect Batteries &ca. &ca. as shall seem to him necessary, with full power also to appoint &: constitute Officers of every kind as he shall judge proper.

Transcript of audio file:

a Camp table was fixed before them and 2 red leather cases laid thereon, containing the Commissions etc which were opened and unsealed in the sight of all present and read by the Judge Advocate (Captain Collins) constituting Arthur Philip Esquire Governor General Commander in Chief over all those Territories, belonging to his Britannic Majesty George King of Great Britain, France and Ireland and called New South Wales and parts adjacent with full power and authority to build forts, castles and towns, and to erect batteries etc as shall seem to him necessary, with full power also to appoint and constitute officers of every kind as he shall judge proper.

The surgeon's observations (4)

In short I shall not attempt to follow the Commission thro' its various parts, I shall only observe that it is a more unlimited one than was ever before granted to any Governor under the British Crown.