Why did the first fleet come to Australia?
The First Fleet, commanded by Arthur Phillip RN, came to what Captain James Cook had named “New South Wales” in 1788 because Cook & Sir Joseph Banks had recommended to King George the Third that it would be a good place for an overseas colony/settlement & if the British didn’t get there first the French would In fact when Phillip made landfall in Botany Bay in January 1788 3 French Warships arrived about a week later. They were commanded by a man named La Perouse, but they were only an Exploratory expedition, Whereas Phillips 12 First Fleet ships were equipped to start a colony.PS send me an Email if you want more details. I’m “jerry3au55555@yahoo.
