The Art Work and Handwritten Journals Of The First Fleeters

Presented by Paul Brunton

Of the approximately 1,400 people on the First Fleet of 1787–88, the handwritten journals of only 11 have survived. These provide eyewitness accounts of the voyage to Sydney and the first years here. They record the interaction with the Aboriginal people. Written by men of different ranks, each journal offers a unique perspective. Most were discovered only in the 20th century, and one was only acquired by the State Library of NSW as late as 1995. In 2009, the collection held in the Mitchell Library was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Program.

Dates and Locations

Tuesday 16 June 2026 Canberra (ACT)

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