An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, from Its First Settlement in January 1788, to August 1801: With Remarks on the Dispositions, ... Inhabitants of That Country

by David Collins

First-hand history of early Australia’s founding and its challenges

This volume presents a detailed record of the English settlement in New South Wales from its first landing in 1788 through 1801, including the voyage, governance, and daily life of a new colony. It captures the ambitions, difficulties, and moral questions faced by those who built a distant outpost in a strange land.

The book weaves together official decisions, transport logistics, and the experiences of convicts, soldiers, and settlers. It also documents early encounters with the native inhabitants and the evolving daily routines of colonial life, offering a window into the realities of establishing a foothold at Botany Bay, Port Jackson, and nearby areas. Detailed transport and settlement history, including ships, routes, and the initial camp at Botany Bay. Accounts of governance, legal proceedings, and attempts to balance mercy, punishment, and order. Observations on early interactions with Indigenous communities and the challenges of frontier life. Insights into the logistics of provisioning, agriculture, and public works during the early years. Ideal for readers of imperial history, colonial encounters, and Australian history, this edition helps you understand how a penal colony grew into a fledgling society.

Genres: History

638 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1798

About the author

In charge of the establishment of law during the first 9 years of the colony of New South Wales (Australia) from 1788 to 1797, Collins subsequently became lieutenant-governor of the new settlement in what is now Tasmania. He died there, disappointed by the lack of support from England.

His Account of the English Colony (published in 1798 and then 1802) was the most complete account of the settlement to emerge in those early years - and certainly more optimstic. Collins admitted in his journals that he overplayed the positive angles to encourage immigration to the new colony.