Arrival of Transports at Botany Bay\n

In 1788, the arrival of the transports Alexander, Friendship, and Scarborough at Botany Bay drew the attention of a sizable group of Indigenous Australians who had gathered on Point Solander. The British ships were part of the First Fleet, dispatched from England to establish a penal colony in the distant land known as New South Wales. The Indigenous Australians observing the arrival of these foreign vessels would have witnessed a significant turning point in their history. The arrival of the First Fleet marked the beginning of significant changes to their way of life, as the British settlers aimed to claim the land as their own and establish a new colony. The presence of Indigenous Australians at Point Solander as they watched the arrival of the First Fleet also highlights the long history of connection and belonging that they had to the land. For generations, these Indigenous peoples had lived off the land, relying on its resources for their survival. The arrival of the British ships signaled the start of a period of profound disruption and upheaval for the Indigenous population of Australia. The impact of colonization would be felt in various ways, including the loss of land, culture, and life as the British settlers sought to assert their control over the continent. The event at Botany Bay represents a moment of encounter and collision between two vastly different worlds, with far-reaching consequences for the Indigenous peoples of Australia. #FirstFleet #Colonization #IndigenousAustralia #Encounter #HistoryChanging