History quiz

What does the First Fleet represent?

The First Fleet represents the beginning of European settlement in Australia. It was a fleet of 11 ships that left Portsmouth, England, in May 1787 and arrived in Botany Bay, New South Wales, in January 1788. The fleet carried over 1,000 people, including 759 convicts, as well as marines, sailors, and civil officers. The First Fleet is often seen as a symbol of the beginning of British colonialism in Australia, and its arrival is commemorated each year on Australia Day.