Why was Arthur Phillip exploring?

Answer 1

Arthur Phillip's orders were to settle botany Bay. However, upon landing there on 18 January 1788, he quickly determined that the area was unsuitable for settlement. There was insufficient fresh water or good building timber, the soil was unsuitable for farming and the harbour was neither deep enough nor sheltered enough. He then moved the First Fleet north to Port Jackson.

Answer 2

Captain Arthur Phillip found that it was necessary to explore inland, in order to expand the colony. He took it upon himself to explore beyond the boundaries of Sydney Cove, where he and the First Fleet landed after finding that Botany Bay was unsuitable for settlement.

On 22 April 1788, soon after arriving in New South Wales, Phillip travelled as far as he could by boat up Sydney Harbour, continuing on up the Parramatta River which he traced to the point where Rose Hill (later Parramatta) was established six months later. His expedition then spent four days travelling overland towards the Blue Mountains, but the difficult terrain and lack of supplies forced the group back.

On his next expedition which departed on 28 June 1789, Phillip also traced the Hawkesbury River as far upstream as he could, to Richmond Hill, and he then continued on to the junction with the Grose River.

Answer 3

Captain Arthur Phillip made several expeditions of exploration in the immediate area.

Soon after arriving in New South Wales, he travelled as far as he could by boat up Sydney Harbour, continuing on up the Parramatta River which he traced to the point where Rose Hill (later Parramatta) was established six months later. His expedition then spent four days travelling overland towards the Blue Mountains, but the difficult terrain and lack of supplies forced the group back.

On his next expedition in June 1789, Phillip also traced the Hawkesbury River as far upstream as he could, to Richmond Hill, and he then continued on to the junction with the Grose River.

Answer 4

Captain Arthur Phillip was faced with a crisis. The colony was starving because of lack of land for growing crops or grazing livestock, and more settlers were expected to arrive with subsequent fleets of convicts. Phillip explored in order to expand the colony for farming purposes.

Answer 5

Captain Arthur Phillip was an ex-Royal Navy man with a distinguished record. Although he was in semi-retirement, he was interested in new challenges. Thus, when the British authorities were seeking someone to establish a convict colony in New South Wales, they saw Phillip as a most suitable candidate. In October 1786, Phillip was appointed Governor-designate of the proposed British penal colony of New South Wales. He had the military experience to also established the military colony to protect the East India Company trade as directed, and in doing so also preempted French intrusion into the South Pacific arena.

As for how he came to Australia - he came aboard a ship, as Captain of the First Fleet. This was the fleet of eleven ships which transported the convicts to Australia, along with the marines and officers.

Answer 6

Captain Arthur Phillip sailed to Sydney with the First Fleet in 1787-1788. He left England in May 1787 and arrived in Australia in January 1788.