When Did the First Fleet Arrive in Australia? 26 Jan 1788 Facts

January 26 has been observed as Australia Day since 1940, but the date marks something far older: the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip anchored his fleet at Sydney Cove and planted the British flag, establishing the first permanent European settlement on the continent. The journey that led to that moment took more than eight months at sea and covered over 24,000 nautical miles before Phillip could declare the territory a colony.

Arrival Date: 26 January 1788 · Number of Ships: 11 · Total People Onboard: Over 1,400 · Commander: Captain Arthur Phillip · Landing Site: Sydney Cove

Five dates tell the full arc of the First Fleet’s journey, with each stop revealing the navigational challenges that shaped the colony’s ultimate location.

The table below maps the fleet’s key waypoints from departure to landing.

The pattern shows how Phillip’s willingness to reject Botany Bay after just two days prevented a settlement that would have lacked reliable water and safe anchorage.

What actually happened on 26 January 1788?

On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet anchored at Sydney Cove after having first arrived at Botany Bay eight days earlier. Captain Arthur Phillip and officers from the ship Supply went ashore and planted the British flag, formally proclaiming New South Wales a British colony (History Hit). The event marked the beginning of continuous British occupation of the Australian continent.

Fleet entry into Port Jackson

The fleet had first sighted Van Diemen’s Land on 4 January 1788, having spent over 250 days at sea since departing Portsmouth on 13 May 1787. The 11 ships—comprising 6 convict transports, 3 store ships, and 2 Navy vessels—sailed into Port Jackson after rejecting Botany Bay as unsuitable (Wikipedia). Phillip had personally explored the harbour on 21 January 1788, going ashore at Camp Cove before selecting the final settlement site.

Establishment of camp at Sydney Cove

Sydney Cove offered what Botany Bay lacked: deep water close to shore, natural shelter from prevailing winds, and a small freshwater stream later known as the Tank Stream (Wikipedia). Phillip named the cove after Lord Sydney, the British Home Secretary who had authorised the colony. Convicts began disembarking the day after arrival to establish the first permanent settlement.

The implication: Sydney Cove succeeded where Botany Bay would have failed because Phillip prioritised practical survivability over speed.

What happened when the First Fleet arrived in Australia?

The First Fleet’s arrival followed a sequence of decisions that shaped the colony’s precise location. After reaching Botany Bay on 18 January 1788, Phillip immediately rejected it as unsuitable due to poor soil, limited fresh water, and an insecure anchorage for the ships (SBS). He then led a party north to search for a better harbour.

Move from Botany Bay

Phillip sailed into Port Jackson on 21 January 1788 and reportedly described it as “without exception the finest harbour in the world” (History Hit). He selected Sydney Cove over other candidates because of its combination of deep-water access and freshwater supply. The formal proclamation followed five days later.

Selection of Sydney Cove

Sydney Cove was chosen for practical colonial needs: the deep water allowed ships to moor close to shore, the cove provided shelter from storms, and the Tank Stream offered reliable fresh water within walking distance of the beach (Wikipedia). The settlement at Sydney Cove had fresh water from this stream, which later became central to the colony’s early survival.

The catch: Phillip’s two-day survey saved the colony from a location that would have hampered its growth from the very start.

What happened to Aboriginal people on January 26th?

The Eora people, whose traditional lands included the harbour area Phillip named Port Jackson, observed the First Fleet’s arrival from the shore. Records indicate no immediate violent conflict occurred on 26 January 1788, though the implications of British occupation would unfold over generations.

Initial encounters

The Eora people had encountered European vessels before—the area had been surveyed by Cook in 1770—but nothing comparable to an 11-ship fleet establishing a permanent settlement. Sydney Cove was known to the Eora people as Warrane (Harris Fam History). Initial contact was cautious on both sides, with Phillip instructing his people to treat Indigenous inhabitants fairly.

Long-term effects

The First Fleet established a penal colony that initiated European colonisation of Australia (History Hit). From this initial settlement at Sydney Cove, British authority expanded to Rose Hill and Norfolk Island between 1788 and 1792 (My Place for Teachers). The arrival marked the beginning of profound and lasting changes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The implication: the absence of immediate conflict on 26 January masked the displacement that would accelerate over the following decades.

How long did it take to travel to Australia by boat in the 1700s?

The First Fleet’s voyage from England to Australia lasted over 250 days, covering more than 24,000 nautical miles. The fleet departed Portsmouth, England, on 13 May 1787 and did not reach Sydney Cove until 26 January 1788 (Wikipedia). This eight-month journey tested the limits of late-18th century maritime capability.

Departure from Portsmouth

The fleet of 11 ships left Portsmouth on 13 May 1787 carrying over 1,400 people, including convicts, marines, sailors, officials, and a small number of free settlers (Wikipedia). Of approximately 1,500 people who departed, 48 died during the voyage (History Hit). The journey tested both crew morale and supplies.

Key stops en route

The route included stops at Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, and Cape Town, where the fleet resupplied before continuing into the southern hemisphere. These stops were necessary for fresh water, food, and repairs to vessels stressed by the long crossing. The fleet sighted Van Diemen’s Land on 4 January 1788, finally approaching the Australian coast after nearly eight months at sea.

The implication: the gruelling crossing made Phillip’s careful site selection even more consequential—he could not afford to settle on marginal ground after such an ordeal.

How many ships were in the First Fleet?

The First Fleet consisted of exactly 11 ships: 6 convict transports, 3 store ships, and 2 Navy vessels. The fleet carried over 1,400 people across these vessels, making it the largest single fleet of ships to that point in British colonial history (History Hit).

Types of vessels

The convict transports—ships designed to carry prisoners in cramped, disease-prone conditions—formed the core of the fleet. Store ships carried supplies, tools, and provisions needed to establish a colony from scratch. The two Navy vessels, including HMS Sirius and the brig Supply, provided naval authority and served as Phillip’s command platform for surveying the harbour.

Crew and passenger breakdown

Beyond the convicts, the fleet carried marines to maintain order, naval crew to operate the ships, government officials to administer the colony, and a handful of free settlers who chose to join the venture. The supply ships alone brought enough provisions to sustain the settlement through its first year—though early accounts suggest those supplies ran short faster than anticipated.

The implication: the fleet’s composition was purpose-built for punishment and supply, not comfort, which shaped every decision Phillip made upon arrival.

First-hand accounts from the landing

Contemporary observers left records that illuminate the landing beyond official dispatches. Captain Phillip’s own journal entries provide the clearest picture of the decision-making process that led to Sydney Cove, while accounts from convicts and marines offer glimpses of the experience from below deck.

“Without exception the finest harbour in the world.”

— Governor Arthur Phillip, journal entry describing Port Jackson (History Hit)

“January 26 marks the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at Sydney Cove, formally establishing the colony of New South Wales.”

— SBS English podcast narrator (SBS)

The implication: these dual perspectives—one from the commander calculating harbour suitability, another framing the same event as foundational history—show how the landing could be both a practical colonial decision and the start of a continent’s transformation.

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Frequently asked questions

For anyone researching Australian history or planning Australia Day commemorations, the 26 January 1788 arrival at Sydney Cove remains the definitive starting point—one that still sparks debate over how that legacy should be marked today.