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Why did Britain establish a colony at Botany Bay? Based on an analysis of primary documents. In January 1788 the British established a colony at Botany Bay on the Eastern coast of Australia. This essay will discuss three possible reasons for the colony, these being as a penal colony to receive transported convicts, the commercial benefits to Britain, and the strategic benefits to Britain, and will argue that Botany Bay was established primarily as a penal colony. Up until 1776 Britain had been transporting convicts to the American colonies, but this practice was stopped with the outbreak of the War of Independence. Soon after, the British passed the Hulks act setting the terms of alternative punishment for convicts sentenced to transportation. What this document shows is that transportation was being stopped only temporarily, until a more suitable site outside Britain could be found. The reason given in the document for stopping transportation, the loss of workers, is contradicted by the statement of the need for new provisions to replace transportation to America.1 The British Government's continued support, and search for new sites for transportation, is shown by their setting up a House of Commons Committee, in 1779, to consider new sites for a penal colony. This shows that the British Government was serious about restarting transportation, which may have been due to the fact that little or no transportation had taken place in the previous three years, and therefore convict numbers, as well as the need for a solution, had been growing.2 It was at this committee that Sir Joseph Banks stated that Botany Bay was a suitable site for a penal colony, because it was a great distance from Britain, was thinly populated with poorly armed people with limited powers of opposition, had a good climate, and had the resources to support an independent colony.3 These were important considerations in setting up a colony. The distance from Britain would make escape extremely difficult, while opposition from the indiginous people would have meant the need for more soldiers to protect the colony, the climate had to be good to reduce disease, and the colony must be able to support itself to reduce the burden on Britain.4 As such, Botany Bay seemed to meet the requirements for a penal colony. This view was later supported by the Heads Of A Plan document in 1786 which stated that New South Wales had the advantages of a good and fertile climate combined with the necessary remoteness, and therefore " seems peculiarly adapted to answer the views of Government " in respect to finding a solution to the growing crime problem.5 As well, the composition of the first fleet is a strong indication of the purpose of the colony. According to Lord Sydney's letter to the British Treasury, it was intended to send 750 convicts and 180 marines, with no mention of settlers.6 As such convicts were to makeup the majority of those sent to Botany Bay. Another point to consider is that of the four documents that could be considered as from official sources, The Hulks Act 7, Committee of the House of Commons 1779 8, Lord Sydney and the Heads Of A Plan 9, and Governor Phillip's instructions 10, the first three are concerned with, or begin with reference to, the convict problem. In a letter to the British Government in 1783, James Matra discussed the potential commercial benefits to Britain of a settlement. In this letter he discussed the possibilities of both the New Zealand Flax Plant and timber as well as other possible trade advantages.11 These benefits are echoed in Sir George Young's Plan of 1785.12 Yet both Matra's 13 and Young's 14 plans were privately proposed ventures that needed funding from the government, and therefore had to be seen as worth the cost. As well, the uses of the Flax Plant as given in these documents, such as superior ropes and canvas, appear to be no more than potential or possible uses, as shown by Governor Phillip's instructions of 1786-87 requesting him to send home samples of the plant for further evaluation.15 If the Flax Plant and timber in New Zealand were the motivation behind the colony, then why was it not set up in New Zealand itself ? Mention of these materials were made in official documents, namely Heads Of A Plan 16 and Governor Phillip's instructions 17, but only after the issue of convicts had been dealt with. In fact, the parts of the Heads Of A Plan that mentions New Zealand's Flax Plants and timber 18 is very similar to James Matra's letter of 1783.19 This would suggest that the commercial benefits from a colony were of secondary importance to the convict problem, but were recognised as potential benefits. James Matra's proposal of 1783 also stated that a settlement at Botany Bay would bring strategic benefits to Britain such as New Zealand flax and timber for the navy, and the military potential of interfering with Spanish or Dutch shipping in time of war.20 Yet as a private venture requiring government investment , based on possible commercial success, it would be only natural for Matra to argue the possible benefits for Britain outside of the purely commercial, in order to gain official support. Of the official documents only two mention strategic benefits, the Heads Of A Plan,21 which mentions flax and timber and reflects Matra's letter,22 and Governor Phillip's instructions, which talks of securing Norfolk Island to prevent other powers occupying it, but only after the Botany Bay settlement is successfully established.23 If strategic reasons were the most important, why wait until 1788 to secure a settlement, why were mainly convicts sent, and why so few troops? Based on the documents, it would appear that strategic concerns came third in order of importance, after convicts and commerce. In conclusion, it seems clear, that based on the documents, Botany Bay was established as a penal colony to send convicts to, after the loss of the American colonies. This is demonstrated by the British Governments continued interest in, and search for a new overseas site, as well as the priority given the convict problem by government officials and documents. The British Government's attitude to the commercial and strategic benefits of a settlement at Botany Bay, seem more as if they were just the potential added benefits of establishing the colony there, instead of elsewhere. ---------------------------------------------- REFERENCES 1. ' An Extract From the Hulks Act, 1776 ', Statutes at Large, Vol. XII in Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents, H. Weatherburn (Compl.), 1996, p.18 2. ' Sir Joseph Banks on Botany Bay, 1779', Evidence of Sir Joseph Banks to a Committee of the House of Commons 1779, Journals of the House of Commons, Vol. XXXVII. in Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents, H. Weatherburn (Compl.), 1996, p. 18 3. Ibid. , p. 19 4. Ibid. , p. 19 5. ' Letter from Lord Sydney to the British Treasury together with The Heads Of A Plan, 1786 ', Historical Records of New South Wales, Vol. 1, Pt. II, Sydney, 1982, in Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents, H. Weatherburn (Compl.), 1996, p. 29 6. Ibid. , p. 28 7. ' An Extract From the Hulks Act, 1776 ', op. cit., p. 18. 8. ' Sir Joseph Banks on Botany Bay, 1779', op. cit., pp. 18-20. 9. ' Letter from Lord Sydney to the British Treasury together with The Heads Of A Plan, 1786 ', op. cit., pp 27-31. 10. ' Extract From Governor Phillip's Instructions ', Historical Records of Australia, Series I, Vol. 1, Sydney. 1914, in Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents, H. Weatherburn (Compl.), 1996, pp. 31-32 11. ' James Matra's Proposal For Establishing A Settlement In New South Wales 1783', Historical Records of New South Wales, Vol. 1, Pt. I I, Sydney, 1892, in Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents, H. Weatherburn (Compl.), 1996, pp. 20-23 12. ' Sir George Young's Plan 1785 ', Historical Records of New South Wales, Vol. 1, Pt I I, Sydney, 1892, in Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents, H. Weatherburn (Compl.), 1996, pp. 24-27 13. ' James Matra's Proposal For Establishing A Settlement In New South Wales 1783 ', op. cit., p. 23 14. ' Sir George Young's Plan 1785 ', op. cit., p. 26 15. ' Extracts of Governor Phillip's Instructions 1786 - 87 ', op. cit., p. 32 16. ' Letter from Lord Sydney to the British Treasury together with The Heads Of A Plan, 1786 ', op. cit., pp. 30-31 17. ' Extracts of Governor Phillip's Instructions 1786 - 87 ', op. cit., pp. 31-32 18. ' Letter from Lord Sydney to the British Treasury together with The Heads Of A Plan, 1786 ', op. cit., pp. 30-31 19. ' James Matra's Proposal For Establishing A Settlement In New South Wales 1783 ', op. cit., pp. 20-22 20. ' James Matra's Proposal For Establishing A Settlement In New South Wales 1783 ', op. cit., pp. 20-22 21. ' Letter from Lord Sydney to the British Treasury together with The Heads Of A Plan, 1786 ', op. cit., pp. 30-31 22. ' James Matra's Proposal For Establishing A Settlement In New South Wales 1783 ', op. cit., pp. 20-22 23. ' Extracts of Governor Phillip's Instructions 1786 - 87 ', op. cit., pp. 31-32 ---------------------------------------------- BIBLIOGRAPHY James, L. 1994. The Rise and Fall of the British Empire. London: Abacus. Martin, G. 1978. The Founding of Australia. Sydney: Ward, R. 1992 (1965). Concise History of Australia. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press. Weatherburn, H. (Compl.). 1996. Australian Colonial History 1788-1860 Documents. As supplied through the university. ------------------------------------------------ |
