First Fleet - Year 4 HSS - Quiz

How many ships were part of the First Fleet?

• 8

• 10

• 11

• 13

Answer explanation

Eleven ships left Portsmouth on the 13th May 1787 to journey to Australia as the First Fleet.

Who was the captain of the First Fleet?

• Captain James Cook

• Captain Jack Sparrow

• Captain Barnacles

• Captain Arthur Phillip

Answer explanation

Captain Arthur Phillip went on to become the Governor of New South Wales, and knew how to speak 5 languages!

What were reasons for the journey of the First Fleet?

• The Industrial Revolution

• The American War of Independence

• Harsh punishments for crimes in England

• All of these

Answer explanation

Other reasons included:

- Australia as a good place for a new colony

- Building the British Empire

- Natural resources of Australia

What was the most common sentence length for convicts on board the First Fleet?

• 7 years

• 14 years

• 21 years

• Life

How many convicts were transported from England on the First Fleet?

• 302

• 552

• 772

• 902

Answer explanation

579 male and 193 female convicts left from Portsmouth, England on the First Fleet on May 13, 1787.

The Alexander, Charlotte and Friendship were ships on the First Fleet. Their main role was to be:

• Convict transports

• Naval ships

• Store ships

• None of these

Answer explanation

Other convict transports were the Prince of Wales, Lady Penrhyn and Scarborough.

What was the first place the Fleet stopped at on June 3 1787?

• Kingston, Jamaica

• New York, America

• Santa Cruz, Tenerife

• Table Bay (Cape Town) South Africa

Answer explanation

The Fleet stopped here for 1 week before sailing to Rio de Janeiro.

On the June 8, one convict tried to escape, but was caught the next morning.

How long did the journey of the First Fleet from England to Australia take?

• 202 days

• 252 days

• 302 days

• 442 days

Answer explanation

1373 people arrived on the First Fleet.

40 people died during the journey, while 7 babies were born.

Where did the British first intend to settle in Australia?

• Perth, Western Australia

• Sydney Cove, Australia

• Botany Bay, Australia

• Norfolk Island, Australia

Answer explanation

Botany Bay was not suitable for a colony as there was almost no fresh water and the soil was not good for growing crops.

On what date did they raise the British flag in Sydney Cove?

• 20 January 1788

• 22 January 1788

• 26 January 1788

• 27 January 1788