Location: La Perouse and Kurnell, Sydney, NSW
Country: Gadigal and Gweagal
LGA: Sutherland Shire and City of Randwick
Region: Sydney’s Eastern and Southeastern suburbs
Website: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/kamay-botany-bay-national-park
Map: below
In January 1788 the eleven ships of the British imperial convoy now known as the First Fleet, under the command of naval officer Arthur Phillip, sailed into Kamay-Botany Bay with more than 1,400 convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officers and free settlers on board. These ships were followed, soon after, by the two French vessels of Compte de La Pérouse‘s scientific expedition. Both of these arrivals were extraordinarily consequential, although in different ways.
After deeming Botany Bay unsuitable for a penal settlement, Arthur Phillip moved the fleet further north to Port Jackson, where he had already selected a cove the local Eora people called Warrane, or Wanang, as his preferred site for the new colony.
Meanwhile, the French ships, the Astrolabe and the Boussole, remained in Kamay-Botany Bay for six weeks. In that time, the expedition’s astronomer and mathematician, Joseph Lepaute Dagelet, established an astronomical observatory on the foreshore. He also met, advised and corresponded with the First Fleet’s young astronomer and engineer, Lieutenant William Dawes, who was similarly constructing an observatory near Sydney Cove, at a site now called Dawes Point Ta-Ra.
Tragically, the ships of La Pérouse’s scientific expedition were wrecked on reefs surrounding Vanikoro, in the Solomon Islands. None of the survivors ever returned to France.
Caption
Top Featured image: Engraving depicting the British fleet arriving at Botany Bay in January 1788, with local people in canoes witnessing the arrival. Bare Island is in the background. Sirius is in the foreground; convict transports such as Prince of Wales are depicted to the left. From The voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay : with an account of the establishment of the colonies of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island by Arthur Phillip. Original drawing by R. Cleveley, engraving by T. Medland. From State Library of NSW. This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) as part of an ongoing cooperative project.
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Post created 5 March 2024. Last updated 20 April 2025.