The late eighteenth century saw British prisons overcrowded and in total disarray. With the loss of its American outlets, Britain no longer had a colony to which it could send excess convicts. The strict legal system during this period and arguably, a culture of crime in the cities had left the nation’s existing penal system overflowing. Exhausted war ships that were unfit for naval service, became Prison Hulks which served as a temporary solution. Soon, this too would soon prove as inadequate, and the issue of what to do with the outpouring of convicts became a national problem. A convict settlement in Australia became a possible solution.
On May 13 1787, the 11 ships of the First Fleet set sail from Great Britain and began the transportation of convicts to Australia. However, transporting convicts literally half way across the world was tediously slow and the cost of supporting the new colonies was a massive financial burden. Therefore it would seem that other factors must have come into play whilst making this decision – especially considering that places existed closer to home where it may have been possible to send convicts.
In addition to requiring an outpost for its criminals, part of the attraction to Australia as the site of a new colony, may have been the perception that the land held vast quantities of natural resources – especially those with particular value to the Britain.
Flax and pine trees were of particular interest: flax, a necessary component of canvas sails, and tall pine trees to be fashioned into mast, were invaluable to the British Naval forces. Britain did not have ready access to these materials in their existing colonies and therefore having an easy source of high quality goods was perceived as pivotal towards the goal of commanding the seas and creating a global empire. Australia also opened up possible new trade routes by provided locations for ports on long journeys – particularly useful during periods of war. It would also benefit the empire and reestablished Britain’s image as one of the world great imperial nations; despite their relatively recent loss of the Americas.
English Man of War c.1750
Flax and mast trees were of pivotal importance to Britain due to there use as essential components for its naval fleet, such as in the image above, a conceptual design for a new First Rate battleship, envisioned to have at least 90 guns. While the exact model was never built, similar ships were achieved. Britain did not have a ready source of these resources in it existing colonies, and as such the Australian colonies were thought to be a perfect source for the materials to build such ships.
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