First Fleet collection
The First Fleet arrived in Port Jackson (now Sydney) in January 1788, and this drawing depicts the colonists’ first view of the cove.
The First Fleet collection gives a fascinating insight into life in Australia following the arrival of the British in 1788, when 11 ships carrying some 1,400 people landed to establish the first colony.
Through the eyes of the fleet's artists we glimpse the flora and fauna, the people of the Eora Nation (the group of clans that lived in the area around Port Jackson, modern-day Sydney, united by a common language), and the landscape they inhabited. The perspective of the people invaded was not recorded at the time but is investigated here.
It is customary for some Aboriginal Australian communities not to mention names or reproduce images associated with deceased people. Members of these communities are respectfully advised that some images on display, including in the videos, depict deceased Aboriginal people.
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First Fleet art highlights
Explore the British view of Australia in the early days of colonisation through a selection of highlights from the First Fleet collection.
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Unique flora and fauna
The First Fleet, together with the earlier Endeavour voyage, opened Europeans' eyes to a unique new world of plant and animal life. Discover for yourself why the artwork is an important record of Australia's natural history.
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Spearing the Governor
This famous painting depicts the British Governor with a spear through his shoulder. But, as you can find out in this video, there is much more to the story than might at first appear.
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Artist Daniel Boyd looks beyond the images
Australian artist-in-residence Daniel Boyd looks at what the First Fleet collection does and doesn't tell us about the early years of colonisation and the relationship between the British settlers and the Aboriginal people. Watch the video.
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Tracing the past
Discover in this video how Daniel Boyd's installation brings a fresh perspective to both the First Fleet collection and the human remains collection housed at the Museum.
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First Fleet artwork collection
Find out more about the history of the collection and browse over 600 drawings and watercolours.
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The Art of the First Fleet book
Enjoy rare watercolours, ink and pencil drawings and some of the only visual records of the lives of the indigenous Eora people of Australia.
These beautiful illustrations, by artists on board the First Fleet, document the sights witnessed by the first Europeans to colonise Australia.