Australia was known as New South Wales during the olden days. It was originally set up as a penal colony, a location which was used to separate prisoners from the local populace. In October 1786, a captain named Arthur Phillip who was commissioned by the government to construct an agricultural work camp in New South Wales for the British convicts. The beginning was tough as he requested experienced farmers to assist the penal colony continuously rejected the offer, and he was poorly sponsored by the government. Despite the hardship, Captain Phillip led 1000 people, which 700 people were criminals while the other 300 people were Marines and officers travel around Africa and landed at the eastern side of Australia. The journey lasted eight months and claimed 30 people’s lives.…show more content… This is due to infertile land, unfamiliar weather and inexperienced farmers. Food shortage issue lasted for several years, and there is lack of responsible authorities maintaining peace. Before leaving England, Captain Phillip said: “In a new country there will be no slavery and hence no slave”. Punishments and death sentence have been applied in maintaining peace, but the idea of egalitarianism is strong. Captain Phillip hold on to this idea by assigning positions and responsibilities to the convicts. In 1792, while Captain Phillips head back to England, Australia becomes prosperous. Having a sense of unity, the men began to rally around January 26 as their founding day. In 1818, 26th January was declared as an official holiday, making it the 30th anniversary of British settlement in Australia. Australia celebrates their National Day, which is now known as Australia Day that has two purposes. The purpose is to serve as a celebration of the founding of Australia and a day of mourning for the first settlements that started the colony.
