The First Fleet

How many ships made up the first fleet?

• 10

• 11

• 12

• 13

Answer explanation

There were 11 ships! They were the HMS Sirius, HMS Supply, Alexander, Charlotte, Friendship, Lady Penrhyn, Prince of Wales, Scarborough, Borrowdale, Fishburn and Golden Grove.

What date did the first fleet land in Australia?

• January 26, 1788

• May 8, 1780

• April 29, 1770

• Last Tuesday...

Answer explanation

The First Fleet landed in Port Jackson on the 26th January, 1788. We mark this date as Australia Day, which is one of Australia's major public holidays.

Why were people transported to Australia on the First Fleet?

• For a holiday

• To find work

• They were convicts

• They fell into a ship

Answer explanation

Australia was a British penal colony, which means that convicts and criminals were sent to Australia as a punishment.

How many Aboriginal languages were there before European settlement?

• 1-100

• 101-200

• 201-300

• more than 300

Answer explanation

There were AT LEAST 300 languages spoken by Aboriginal people, and some experts believe there may have been as many as 700! Only about 150 are still spoken today.

No one lived in Australia before the British arrived.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

There were Aboriginal people living in Australia for tens of thousands of years. The British did not believe that they were able to look after the land, so they called in "Terra Nullius", or "the land that belongs to no one".

Children were transported to Australia as convicts.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Children as young as 9 were sent to Australia as convicts! John Hudson was 9 years old when he stole something, and was sentenced to go to Australia for 7 years!