Books on the First Fleet & First Fleeters

Numerous books have been written on the First Fleet, First Fleeters and their times. Many of these are held in our First Fleet House Library, and may be accessed in our Reading Room. The lists so far .... more to be added ...

The First Fleet 

• John Bach (Editor): " An Historical Journal 1787-1792 Capt. John Hunter"

• Colin Choat (Editor): "William Bradley's Voyage to New South Wales"

• Colin Choat (Editor) "Arthur Bowes Smyth's Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China"

• David Collins: "An Account of the English Colony of NSW Vol 1 &  Vol 2"

• John Easty: "Pte Jno Easty A Memorandum of the Transactions of a Voiage from England to Botany Bay in The Scarborough transport" - note digitised images

• Paul Fidlon, R J Ryan (Editors): "Ralph Clark: The Journal and Letters 1787 - 1792"

• Paul Fidlon, R J Ryan (Editors): "The Journal of Phillip Gidley King: Lieutenant, RN 1787-1790"

• Newton Fowell: "The Sirius Letters - The Complete Letters of Newton Fowell 1786-1790"

• David Hill: "1788 The Brutal Truth of the First Fleet"

• Robert Hughes: "The Fatal Shore"

• Jonathan King: "The First Fleet - The Convict Voyage that founded Australia 1787 - 1788" - based on the Journals of William Bradley, Ralph Clark, David Collins, John Easty, John Hunter, Philip Gidley King, Arthur Phillip, James Scott, Arthur Bowes Smyth, Watkin Tench, John White - also from writings of George Worgan, Anonymous Officer on the Prince of Wales, Officer of the BorrowdaleDaniel Southwell and Major Ross

• Grace Karskens: "People of the River - Lost Worlds of Early Australia"

• Jonathan King: "Australia's First Fleet The Voyage and the Re-enactment 1788/1988"

• Rob Mundle: "The First Fleet"

• An Officer: 'Authentic & Interesting Narrative to Botany Bay by An “Officer.”'

• Arthur Phillip: "The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay with an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island"

• James Scott: "Remarks on a Passage to Botany Bay 1787-1792 A First Fleet Journal

• Daniel Southwell: "Letters and Journal"
• Watkin Tench : A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay, London, 1789.

• Watkin  Tench: "A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson Including An Accurate Description of the Situation of the Colony; of the Natives; and Of Its Natural Productions"

• John White: "Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales"

• Ron Withington: "Dispatched Downunder Tracing the Resting Places of the First Fleeters"

• George Worgan: "Journal of a First Fleet Surgeon"
  

First Fleeters

• Keith R Binney: "Horesmen of the First Frontier (1788 - 1900) and The Serpents Legacy"

• Peter Bradley: "Convicted" - of James Bradley, Convict on the Scarborough

• Dianne F Budd: "Into Good Ground A Family History of Caroline Laycock/Haycock"

• Don Chapman: "1788 The People of the First Fleet"

• Lt. Peter Chitty: "The Bishop of Botany Bay Rev. Richard Johnson"

• John Cobley: "The Crimes of the First Fleet Convicts"

• Joyce Cowell: "Memorial to a Marine" - William Tunks

• Joyce Cowell & Roderick Cowell Best: "Where First Fleeters Lie"

• James Hugh Donohoe: "The First Fleet Families"

• Paul Fidlon, R J Ryan & Joyce Cowell:  "The First Fleeters A Comprehensive listing of convicts, marines, seamen, officers, wives, children and ships"

• Mollie Gillen: "The Founders of Australia, a Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet Sydney"

• Mollie Gillen: "The Search for John Small - First Fleeter"

• Annegret Hall: "In for the Long Haul: First Fleet Voyage & Colonial Australia" - Rope & Pulley family

• David Hill: "First Fleet Surgeon The Voyage of Arthur Bowes Smyth"

• Robert Holden: "Orphans of  History The Forgotten Children of the First Fleet"

• Jonathan & John King: "Phillip Gidley King"

• Jonathan King: "Mary Bryant. Her Life & Escape from Botany Bay" - Mary Bryant nee Broad/Braund 

• Neil MacIntosh: "Richard Johnston Chaplain to the Colony of NSW"

• Allen Maunder: "Sailing on the Hibbs Line" - Peter Hibbs

• L F McDermott: "The Garth Trilogy & Bellett Prequel" - Edward Garth, Susannah Gough & Jacob Bellett

  • Book 1. Of Angels and Eagles

  • Book 2. Perseverance

  • Book 3. The Promise of Tomorrow"

• Jessica North: "Esther" - Esther Abrahams/Julian

• Michael Pembroke: "Arthur Phillip Sailor Mercenary Governor Spy"

• Cassandra Pybus: "Black Founders The Story of Australia's first Black Settlers" - John "Black" Caesar, Samuel Chinery, John Coffin, George Francisco, Daniel/Janel/Jack Gordon, John Martin, Thomas Orford, John Randall, James "Black Jemmy" Williams, John "Black Jack" Williams - and also a later arrival William "Billy" Blue. However First Fleet Sailor George Nelson, a Cook, was not included.

• Valerine Ross: "Cornstalks", "Hawkesbury Story", "The Everingham Letterbook" &  "Matthew Everingham A First Fleeter and His Times" -  Matthew Everingham

• John & Mary Small Descendants Association: "The Small Family in Australia 1788 - 1988" - updates in 1995 & 2012

• C J Smee: "First Fleet Families"

• A T Yarwood: "Growing Up in the First Fleet" - Jane/Jenny Jones (later Rose) daughter of convict Elizabeth Jones

Please contact First Fleet House for further details
Ph: 02 9360 3788   Fax: 02 9360 3988
Email: fffaus@optusnet.com.au