• 1803. THE “FAILED” Convict Settlement at SULLIVANS BAY-SORRENTO-PORT PHILLIP BAY ACT 1 ARRIVAL of MERCHANT VESSELL” OCEAN “at PORT PHILLIP BAY 1803 ACT 1 ARRIVAL of MERCHANT VESSELL” OCEAN “at PORT PHILLIP BAY 1803 HORRIBLE CONDITIONS for FREE SETTLERS on the OCEAN. 1803 WHAT: The Free Settlers had embarked on the Ocean, to go to a new Settlement.
WHY: The Government of England, had promised all the settlers 100 acres of land. This was so the Convict settlement could become self sufficient in food.
OTHER PEOPLE: Governor Arthur Phillip, of the First Fleet, and Marine Officer David Collins, had allowed James Ruse to start Experimental farm at Parramatta. Next property to the Macarthur’s. It produced a lot of food. AN OLD SAILING SHIP NOT IN USE---USED AS A JAIL.
WHAT: Old Sailing Ships (HULKS) were used as JAILS.
WHY: Many people in England were sent to JAIL.
OTHER PEOPLE: Because England had lost the American War of Independence, Prisoners could no longer be sent as Convicts to America. PRISONERS sentenced for TRANSPORTATION to AUSTRALIA. What: Boat load of People sentenced to “Transportation to Australia. Why: The prisons were full in England because most of the population were very poor. Other People: Even ”talented and unlucky” people were caught up in Societies Criminal Laws. Doctor George BASS and Lieutenant Mathew FLINDERS
WHAT: Bass and Flinders proved that Van Diemans Land was an island.
WHY: Until this happened, ALL ships had to sail south of the Southern Tip of Van Diemans Land to get to Sydney.
OTHER PEOPLE: This meant all ships coming from the west ALLWAYS set a course BELOW the bottom of Van Diemans Land, adding days and danger to get to Sydney. ( Port Jackson) LADY NELSON at PORT PHILLIP ENTRANCE WHO: Captain John Murray of the Lady Nelson.
WHY: Entering Port Phillip, after First Lieutenant Bowen and crew. Rowed and sailed from Westernport into Port Phillip
OTHER PEOPLE: Governor King in Sydney Town, was not satisfied with the mapping of this area of Bass Straight. Don’t forget he was a Naval Officer. MAP Port Philip Bay. WHO. Captain John Murray’s Map. From the Lady Nelson
WHY. Mr. Bowen, first Lieutenant of the Lady Nelson, had rowed into Port Phillip and gave the news of the Bay to Captain John Murray, who was still in Westernport
OTHER PEOPLE. Captain Murray had to satisfy Governor King’s commands to map the Bays area of Bass Straight.
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CAPTAIN CHARLES ROBBINS and SURVEYOR GENERAL CHARLES GRIMES ABOARD WHO: Captain Charles Robbins, was told by Governor King to follow the French Expedition into the Bass Straight Islands and ensure they did not name and Island as French Possession.
WHY: At the time France and England were not at war with each other BUT, Governor King was determined not to allow them to call any part of Australia as French.
OTHER PEOPLE: Matthew Flinders had just completed his all around Australia survey and mapping. GRIMES and OTHERS WALK AROUND PORT PHILLIP BAY and MAP WHO: Government Surveyor Charles Grimes and a freed convict James Flemming, with occasional help from the Cumberland’s Crew.
WHY: Governor King had charged Grimes to “walk around and map Port Phillip Bay”
ACT 2 Lieutenant Governor David Collins announces re location of SULLIVAN’S COVE settlement to Van Dieman’s Land WARSHIP H.M.S. CALCUTTA AND MERCHANT VESSEL OCEAN WHO: The Ocean carrying all the Free Settlers and Stores arrived 2 days before the Calcutta.
WHAT: The Calcutta was an English Warship. It carried ALL the convicts and most of the Marines. Technically, Captain Woodruff was in charge of the expedition, until Marine Colonel – Lieutenant Governor David Collins, went ashore and established a Convict Colony
OTHER PEOPLE: The Ocean also carried the livestock essential to start a Colony. SULLIVAN’ COVE. Port Phillip Bay. 1803
WHO. Finally ALL the Free Settlers, Convicts , Civil Officials and stores were landed.
WHY. After the Ocean and Calcutta, had sailed up a little part of the Bay, it was decided the area between to Headlands formed a little Cove. The Cove was named after Sullivan an English War Secretary at the time.
OTHER PEOPLE. The Aborigines had previous awful encounters with white men. H.M.S. CALCUTTA and OCEAN at anchor in Port Phillip Bay. WHO. Both ships the Calcutta and Ocean.
WHY. Until Lieutenant Collins was satisfied with the area both ships could not be released from supporting him.
OTHER PEOPLE. By this time all the livestock would have been ashore, ALL the Convicts, fee Settlers and Civil Staff.
THE SETTLEMENT depicted on an HISTORICAL PLAQUE at Sullivans’s Cove WHO: A Historical plaque mounted at the Sullivan’s Cove Historical site
WHY: To help people get an understanding of the site
MAP OF PORT PHILLIP BAY drawn by LEUITENANT JAMES HINGSTON TUCKEY, First Lieutenant of HMS CALCUTTA WHO: Lt. Tuckey’s was sent by Captain Woodruff of the Calcutta, to map the Bay. Tuckey, because of windy storms in the Bay MISSED the entrance to the YARRA RIVER, that Grimes had found earlier. WHY: Lt. Tuckey’s map was made to assist Lt. Governor Collins to understand Port Phillip Bay On the 11 December Tuckey and a small party, actually walked over to Westernport and back to Sullivan’s Cove.
OTHER PEOPLE: Although Lt. Governor Collins had been informed by Governor King about , about the Yarra River, he had decided to relocate the Settlement to Van Diemans Land
VIEW from EASTERN SISTER -SULLIVAN’S BAY to ARTHURS SEAT WHO: Probably ALL persons would have seen this view
WHY: Sullivan’s Cove is very small.
OTHER PEOPLE: Aboriginal peoples would have obtained shellfish and fished from this area
AN ORIGINAL DRAWING of SULLIVAN”S COVE-- 1803 WHO: Drawing by George Prideaux Harris. Deputy Surveyor.
WHY: Harris was a Deputy Surveyor. Drawings to him would have been a natural outcome.
OTHER PEOPLE: Maybe his drawings were to be given to Governor King??
LIEUTENANT COLONEL DAVID COLLINS-- LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR of the SULLIVAN’S COVE CONVICT SETTLEMENT WHO: MARINE LIETENANT COLONEL DAVID COLLINS.
WHY: After returning to England after having served Governor Arthur Phillip as Chief Judge, he was unemployed. So he put his name down to become the Lt. Governor of the New Colony, to be located at Port Phillip Bay.
OTHER PEOPLE: His wife always remained in England. He died in Hobart. Lt. GOVERNOR COLLINS, PRINTED OUT HIS ORDERS WHO: For ALL the people at Sullivan’s Cove. This was necessary so ALL persons knew what was to be expected.
WHY: This put Collins in charge of anything on shore. He then was not under any command of Captain Woodruff.
THE MINEROLOGIST WHO: Adolarius Humphrey
WHY: Painted by assistant Surveyor George Prideaux Harris. Why was a Minerologist was sent to new Convict Settlement? He accompanied Free Settler William Collins, to explore the Port Dalrymple area, and like Collins returned on the Lady Nelson. The Francis was sent back to Sydney.
LATER LIFE: In Van Diemans Land he became Influential first as an Explorer then a Detested Magistrate.
ACT 3 SCENE 1 and 2 The Convicts LIFE, and some ESCAPES
PUNISHMENT, sometimes for trivial charges WHO: Convicts and sometimes Marines.
WHY: A poor excuse to “maintain discipline”
MARINE’S TENTED AREA Sullivan’s Cove 1803 WHO: The Marine Encampment
WHY: Each group of people had their own area’s
A FREE SETTLERS AREA Sullivan’s Cove 1803 WHO: A Free Settlers “growing” area.
WHY: MORE Food was an essential addition to the Settlement’s limited stocks.
OTHER PEOPLE: Australian wildlife was scarce. Shellfish and other fish were unreliable as a source of food. The Aborigines probably took what they wanted first. CONVICT ACTIVITIES
WHO: Self explanatory.
WHY: It was meant to be a CONVICT SETTLEMENT.
MORE CONVICT LABOUR WHY: Possible dragging logs cut at Arthurs Seat, to the Settlement area, at Sullivan’s Cove. Either to send to Sydney, thence to an Admiralty Ship yard in England, OR To build the Jetty.
THE JETTY to AID the DEPARTURE
WHO: Convicts building the Jetty.
WHY: Upon arrival, the livestock had to be pushed overboard to swim to shore. Convicts, up to their necks in water had to drag laden boats to the shore. The Jetty would help overcome a lot of problems.
WILLIAM COLLINS Free Settler Ex Master’s Mate Preparing to row and sail to Sydney with a Convict Crew to give news of the Settlements arrival to Governor King. Departure delayed 3 Days, because Ebb Tide affected by high southerly winds. ABOUT WILLIAM BUCKLEY WHO: William Buckley a run away Convict who lived with the Aborigines around Port Phillip Bay for approximately 42 Years.
He introduced himself to John Batman and Party, at Indented Head, when Batman purportedly “Purchased” a large area of Land around Port Phillip Bay.
He later saved John Pascoe Fawkner’s Captain and crew from being killed by Aborigines on the banks of the Yarra River.
LOCAL “things to SEE” on the
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
A MOUMENT TO MATTHEW FLINDERS WHO: Erected by the MORNINGTON COUNCIL.
WHY: To mark the xxxxxxx of Flinders visit
A SMALL PORTION of an OBILISK ERECTED AT SULLIVAN’S COVE WHO: Specifies the Civil Officers, and the Officers and Men of the Royal Marine Detachment.
WHY: These men, some with their wives, were responsible for English Law and Order at the Cove. David Collins the Lt. Governor of the Settlement, was also a Marine Officer.
A SMALL PORTION of an OB ILISK ERECTED at SULLIVAN”S COVE WHO: LIST OF CONVICTS.
WHY: Two people in the List of Convicts, went on to contribute to Victorian History.
OTHER PEOPLE: They were John Pascoe Fawkner-- 11years old at the time of the Settlement-- and William Buckley a run away Convict who lived with the Aborigines around Port Phillip Bay for 42 Years The TREES and BUSH THAT WAS PROBABLY PRESENT AT THE COLONY SITE
OTHER PEOPLE: This was home to the local Aboriginals. Very strange and disappointing to the white newcomers
ABOUT JOHN PASCOE FAWKNER WHY: He came with his Convict Father, who also brought out his Wife, daughter and young John. His Father must have had some money because he hired a Ship’s Officers Cabin for his Wife Daughter and Son. They would not have endured the stinking miserable conditions that other Convicts would have had to endure. Whilst John Pascoe Fawkner became rich and affluent, in his early days both he and His Father suffered getting the Lash for crimes.
A WONDERFUL PAINTING ON A SHED AT MORNINGTON BEACH. Could Sullivan’s Cove have looked like this? WHO: Mural Artwork Donated to the Community by South East Water. WHY: The Tony Sowersby Mural Group
OTHER PEOPLE: Tony Sowersby—Lynette Young— Jacob Arnold—Phil Wiseman March 2006