This lecture showed the beginnings of European settlement in Australia. Ironically, Australia started out as a place for convict deportation. The first fleet that arrived struggled to survive and constantly fought off starvation. They were angry because they thought Cook’s report was extremely misleading. The convicts weren’t all that terrible. Many people were transported to Australia because of petty crimes and political deviation. Convict transportation was finally done away with because immigrants desired respectability.
We also learned that New Zealand was developed as an “ideal” settlement. They wanted a place where the wealthy started the civilization but then anyone could come and work their way into the upper class. This plan didn’t pan out because of many reasons. These two causes were the nature of pastoralism in and the discovery of gold in New Zealand.
I thought this lecture was very interesting. I was amazed at the contrast in New Zealand and Australia’s beginnings. I first learned of Australia’s humble beginnings while reading Clark’s novel and was shocked that this was how Australia was started. I was equally surprised that people thought an “ideal” civilization could be started on New Zealand, especially after the British had read Cook’s report of the Maori. It surprised me because Australia was viewed as excellent land by Cook and New Zealand was not very favorable. One would think that the British would then choose Australia for the “perfect” settlement and New Zealand as the convict colony.
One thing that I’m curious about is convict transportation to America. Transportation was started to Australia because they couldn’t do it to America anymore. Where were these transportation destinations in America before the revolutionary war?
