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First Fleet Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
First Fleet Quizzes, Trivia

First Fleet Trivia

First Fleet Trivia Quizzes

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6 First Fleet quizzes and 65 First Fleet trivia questions.
1.
  The First Fleet    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The First Fleet brought the first convicts from Britain to Australia.
Tough, 10 Qns, ace_sodium, Oct 06 10
Tough
ace_sodium
1349 plays
2.
  Send 'Em to New South Wales!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In the late 1700's, the British government decided to reduce the number of criminals in Britain by sending them "beyond the seas" to a remote colony (New South Wales). This quiz is based on Robert Hughes' fine book, "The Fatal Shore".
Average, 10 Qns, severnriver, Aug 30 13
Average
severnriver
673 plays
3.
  Foundations of New South Wales    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The British fleet that arrived in New South Wales in 1788 intended it to be a mere penal colony. You all know it developed into much more than that, but how much do you actually know about colonial times in New South Wales?
Average, 10 Qns, jayknoble, Oct 30 23
Average
jayknoble
Oct 30 23
692 plays
4.
  Settling Australia    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is about the ships and people of the First and Second Fleets that settled Australia. How well do you know Australian History?
Tough, 15 Qns, ROADAMAZONS, Nov 10 17
Tough
ROADAMAZONS
1209 plays
5.
  Australian History : The Beginning    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A pretty simple quiz on the initial phase of white settlement.
Average, 10 Qns, alc05, Dec 07 15
Average
alc05
1752 plays
6.
  The First Fleet - Convict Women    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A brief look at some of the convict women who, in 1788, were part of the very first white settlement in Australia.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, Kuu, Oct 25 08
Very Difficult
Kuu
1022 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What was the name of the rebellion that took place in the colony in 1808, overthrowing the acting Governor, William Bligh?

From Quiz "Foundations of New South Wales"





First Fleet Trivia Questions
1. Who commanded the British fleet that arrived in Sydney Harbour in January, 1788?

From Quiz Foundations of New South Wales

Answer: Commander Arthur Phillip

Captain James Cook arrived in Australia in 1770, and 18 years later, a British fleet arrived in New South Wales, bound for settlement and commanded by Arthur Phillip who consequently became 1st Governor of the new Colony.

2. When did the First Fleet arrive in Australia?

From Quiz Australian History : The Beginning

Answer: January 1788

The fleet departed from Portsmouth England on Sunday 13th May 1787. They restocked at Santa Cruz on 3rd June 1787 and after 8 weeks sailing, reached Rio de Janerio on 6th of August. The final port of call before reaching their destination was the Cape of Good Hope on 14th of October. They stayed here until 12th November, stocking the ship in preparation for the 8 week journey to Australia. The First Fleet arrived in Australia in January 1788.

3. Who was the commanding officer of the First Fleet?

From Quiz The First Fleet

Answer: Captain Arthur Phillip

Captain Phillip was made the first governor of the colony where these convicts were brought. This colony was named New South Wales. Captain John Hunter was second-in-command.

4. How many ships made up the First Fleet?

From Quiz Settling Australia

Answer: eleven

They were the Flagship-Sirius, Armed Tender-Supply. Convict Transports-Alexander, Charlotte, Friendship, Lady Penrhyn, Prince of Wales and Scarborough. Supply Ships-Borrowdale, Golden Grove and Fishburn.

5. Esther Abrahams, a young Jewish girl, caught the eye of 2nd Lt George Johnston on the voyage out. They were to spend the rest of their lives as a couple. In what year were they married?

From Quiz The First Fleet - Convict Women

Answer: 1814

Esther was convicted of stealing some black lace. She gave birth to a baby girl while in prison in England. The child sailed with her. She was to have seven more children to Johnston.

6. What was the name of the rebellion that took place in the colony in 1808, overthrowing the acting Governor, William Bligh?

From Quiz Foundations of New South Wales

Answer: The Rum Rebellion

It was given this name by a historian because of the suspected link between the rebellion and the thriving rum trade, which was run by the New South Wales Corps that lead the uprising. The real cause of the rebellion is still debated.

7. How many ships were in the First Fleet?

From Quiz Australian History : The Beginning

Answer: 11

The first fleet was made up of 11 ships with around 1,350 people in all.

8. The captain was worried about this disease, so he took plenty of food high in vitamin C content to combat this particular disease. Which disease am I talking about?

From Quiz The First Fleet

Answer: Scurvy

In fact, he also grew certain foods on board; beans were grown on dampened strips of cloth.

9. What day did the First Fleet land at Sydney Cove?

From Quiz Settling Australia

Answer: 26th January 1788

Arthur Phillip reached Botany Bay onboard Supply on 18th January 1788. All the other ships arrived by 20th January 1788. Once onshore Phillip and his officers found the Botany Bay to be disappointing and so on 21st January 1788 Phillip sailed looking for a better spot. They located Port Jackson and landed at Sydney Cove at daylight 26th January 1788.

10. What 'first' is Anne Davis remembered for?

From Quiz The First Fleet - Convict Women

Answer: First woman to be hanged in Australia

Anne had been transported for the theft of 8 pairs of silk stockings. She was found guilty in 1789 of the theft of clothing belonging to another convict. She tried to plead pregnancy but this was disproved and she was hung on November 23. She was about 30 years old.

11. What is the name of the 5th Governor of New South Wales, who pulled the colony together after several years of struggle? Hint: His time in office was 1810-1821 (making him the longest serving Governor of the colony).

From Quiz Foundations of New South Wales

Answer: Lachlan Macquarie

Macquarie is documented as the finest Governor the colony ever had. There are several places around New South Wales named in his honour, including Port Macquarie and the prestigious Macquarie University.

12. What was the name of the site where the First Fleet initially landed, and that was deemed unsuitable by Captain Phillip?

From Quiz Australian History : The Beginning

Answer: Botany Bay

On arrival at Botany Bay on 18 January 1788, Captain Phillip decided the site was not suitable and resolved to look for another.

13. How many people sailed with the First Fleet?

From Quiz The First Fleet

Answer: 1,487

It included 759 convicts, 13 children of convicts, 206 marines with 46 members of their families, 20 officials, 210 seamen of the Royal Navy and 233 merchant seamen.

14. Another first. What 'first' is Isabel Rosson remembered for?

From Quiz The First Fleet - Convict Women

Answer: The first school teacher

Isabella married William Richardson in 1789. In 1790 she and her husband started teaching children in the colony. It was an occupation that they continued with until 1810.

15. As a convict arriving in New South Wales, you might have been placed with a settler to do farm labor. What was this system called?

From Quiz Send 'Em to New South Wales!

Answer: assignment system

The assignment system placed convicts with settlers, providing them with essentially free labor for a period of time. According to Hughes, some settlers with strong political connections were able to get the most skilled workers for themselves. In addition, a British official might "punish" an awkward settler by taking away his assigned convicts.

16. What would a single female convict most likely do once she was set free in New South Wales?

From Quiz Foundations of New South Wales

Answer: Marry

The only thing women were good for, according to the men in the patriarchal society, was having children. The second most likely thing she would do would be prostitution.

17. What site did Captain Phillip decide on?

From Quiz Australian History : The Beginning

Answer: Port Jackson

Captain Phillip decided upon Port Jackson, the site of modern day Sydney, as it offered clean drinking water and suitable conditions for establishing a base for settlement. And so, the people of the First Fleet established Australia's first settlement on 26 January 1788.

18. The First Fleet (to Australia) consisted of how many ships?

From Quiz The First Fleet

Answer: 11

There were two ships from the Royal Navy, six convict ships and three store ships.

19. Which ship was the Flagship of the First Fleet?

From Quiz Settling Australia

Answer: Sirius

Arthur Phillip left England onboard Sirius. The Royal Navy classified the flagship as sixth-rate(!). She leaked badly. He transferred to Supply after leaving the Cape as she was a faster ship. He sailed ahead leading the advance party.

20. How many women were sent to Australia as convicts?

From Quiz Send 'Em to New South Wales!

Answer: about 25,000

From a total number of 160,000 or so convicts, about 25,000 were women, and some children were also included. In addition, some wives from England followed their convict husbands to Australia, but they had to pay their own way for the long voyage. (Sending some women to New South Wales was of course essential in order to populate the colony).

21. If a convict was caught slacking at work, what was the most likely punishment?

From Quiz Foundations of New South Wales

Answer: A severe flogging

Floggings were common and were often given unnecessarily.

22. In what year did the Second Fleet arrive?

From Quiz Australian History : The Beginning

Answer: 1790

The convicts aboard the First Fleet were not equipped to deal with Australian conditions. Little was known of the realities of living in this strange place. When Captain Cook had made his initial assessment of the suitability of Australia for a colony it was winter and rainfall had been plentiful. When the First Fleet arrived, it was summer and the country was in a period of drought. Food supplies quickly became depleted and by the time the Second Fleet arrived, the colony was quite desperate.

23. Pick the odd one out.

From Quiz The First Fleet

Answer: Charlotte

The Charlotte was a convict carrying ship; all the others were store ships.

24. Which three ships were Supply Ships?

From Quiz Settling Australia

Answer: Fishburn, Golden Grove, Borrowdale

The government did not want to overspend on the venture and so there was not enough food or clothing for the convicts. There were no medical supplies or anti-scorbutics to prevent scurvy.

25. How did Eleanor McCabe, her little daughter and another woman die in 1793?

From Quiz The First Fleet - Convict Women

Answer: They drowned when a boat overturned

Eleanor's husband, Christopher Magee, managed to swim to shore with his daughter but their little girl didn't survive. Magee buried his wife and child near the door of his house. He used to pour rum over Eleanor's grave declaring 'how well she had loved it during her life.'

26. Once a convict's sentence was complete and they were set free, what social group were they classified as?

From Quiz Foundations of New South Wales

Answer: The Emancipists

They were emancipated, therefore they were known as "emancipists". The free settlers were those who came to the colony to live by choice, not as convicts, and the exclusives were the wealthy class, also free settlers, but classified in a separate social group. The natives were the Aborigines who lived in Australia prior to British settlement.

27. By what name did the Second Fleet come to be known?

From Quiz Australian History : The Beginning

Answer: Death Fleet

While the Second fleet did provide badly needed supplies for the fledgling colony, it was the high death rate on board that drew the most attention. Forty eight people had died on the voyage of the First Fleet, there were 278 dead on the Second Fleet voyage. The captain cared little for his passengers and crew, sickness and disease were so rife that most of those who survived were barely able to walk.

28. Which ship carried only female convicts?

From Quiz The First Fleet

Answer: Lady Penrhyn

The Lady Penrhyn carried 101 female convicts.

29. Approximately how many convicts were transported by the First Fleet?

From Quiz Settling Australia

Answer: 750

The fleet carried about fifteen hundred people to Australia-Royal Navy personnel, marines, merchant crews and about 750 convicts.

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