On 18 January 1788, the First Fleet led by Captain Arthur Phillip, founded the penal colony of New South Wales on the East Coast of Terra Australis. The western part of the continent remained as New Holland. The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at…
View More Australia Philately: The Early Years (1788-1810)Category: Australia
Australia Philately: Decision to Settle (1783-1787)
James Matra – who had been a midshipman on Endeavour (under the name of ‘Magra’) and who later became a diplomat – proposed the idea of a colony in New South Wales in August 1783, with the support of Joseph Banks. The American War of Independence had been under way…
View More Australia Philately: Decision to Settle (1783-1787)Australia Philately: John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley (1784 -1828) was an explorer and surveyor of New South Wales (NSW) in the early period of British settlement. In 1799 (aged 15), he entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman. In October 1802 he travelled to NSW as master’s mate of the naval vessel…
View More Australia Philately: John OxleyAustralia Philately: Gangaar
Gangaar is located on the mouth of the Wahalumbaal river in Yalanji. The name means “(Place of the) Rock Crystals“. Quartz crystals were used in various Aboriginal ceremonies across the continent and are found in the vicinity; they were traded from Gangaar as far as 300 kilometres south and possibly…
View More Australia Philately: GangaarAustralia Philately: Kurnell
Kurnell is the Anglicised version of Cunnel, the land of the Gweagal people. It is the place where Lieutenant James Cook and his crew landed on 29 April 1770 whilst navigating his way up the East Coast of Australia on Endeavour. Cook and his men stayed at Kurnell for a…
View More Australia Philately: KurnellAustralia Philately: Cunnel
Cunnel was located in Gweagal, Dharawal and was home to the Gweagal people. The Gweagal people were the guardians of sacred white clay pits on their territorial land. The white clay had a multitude of uses and was used to line the bottom of the canoes to make a base…
View More Australia Philately: CunnelAustralia Philately: Lieutenant James Cook’s First Voyage (1768-1771)
The first voyage of Lieutenant James Cook was a combined Royal Navy and Royal Society expedition to the south Pacific Ocean aboard HMS Endeavour (a converted merchant collier previously named Earl of Pembroke) that occurred between 1768 to 1771. On 16 February 1768 the Royal Society petitioned King George III…
View More Australia Philately: Lieutenant James Cook’s First Voyage (1768-1771)Australia Philately: Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip (11 October 1738 – 31 August 1814) was a British Royal Navy officer who served as the first governor of the Colony of New South Wales. Phillip was educated at Greenwich Hospital School from June 1751 until December 1753. He then became an apprentice on the whaling ship…
View More Australia Philately: Arthur PhillipAustralia Philately: The Formation Of Australia
From 1756 to 1763, a conflict between most of the great European powers, known as the Seven Years’ War. spread across the globe. The opposing alliances were led by Great Britain and Prussia and the other alliance was led by France, backed by Spain, Saxony, Sweden, and Russia. Major battles…
View More Australia Philately: The Formation Of Australia