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The Dictionary of Sydney
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Sydney Cove, Port Jackson 1788

Sydney Cove, Port Jackson 1788

By

William Bradley

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a3461012 / Safe 1/14 opp p 84]

(Mitchell Library)

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Alexander East Circular Quay First Fleet Golden Grove The Tank Stream Water

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Sydney Cove Sydney Harbour Tank Stream

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Bradley, William

First lieutenant on HMS Sirius, who kept a detailed journal during the early years of settlement.

State Library of New South Wales

East Circular Quay

Quickly seen as the governor's side of Sydney Cove, the area that is now East Circular Quay, the first house built on the point belonged to Bennelong. When the semi-circular quay was constructed from 1837, the eastern side of the bay was used as a quarry. From the 1860s, wool stores and warehouses were built that dominated the landscape until after World War II, when taller buildings were allowed.

Water

Finding and securing enough water for Sydney's needs has been a challenge since the arrival of the Europeans in 1788, and over two centuries water supply has prompted some of the largest engineering schemes undertaken in Sydney.

First Fleet

Phillip described the transportation of convicts to New South Wales as a voyage 'to the extremity of the globe'. Having successfully managed both the ships and the convicts, the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove brought Phillip new challenges: how to keep men and women, convicts and alcohol, camp and fleet, apart.

Alexander

The Alexander was the largest and most notorious convict transport in the First Fleet carrying 'ye worst of land-lubbers'.

Golden Grove

Golden Grove was one of the three storeships of the First Fleet and is credited as having made the fastest return journey of any of the First Fleet ships.

The Tank Stream

The Tank Stream, Australia's first water supply, was a series of tanks cut into the sandstone along the sides of a freshwater stream in Sydney Cove. Although abandoned as a water source by 1826, the technology of the Tank Stream and its name were shaped by the experience of British officers in India.

Ships

Sydney Cove

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Small bay on the southern shore of Port Jackson, which became the site for the European settlement in Sydney.

Sydney Harbour

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The largest arm of Port Jackson, which extends west from the Heads past Balmain and meets the estuaries of the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers.

Tank Stream

The fresh water course which supplied the fledgling colony, emptying into Sydney Cove. It was named for three storage tanks which were constructed in the sandstone beside the stream during a drought in 1790. The Tank Stream still flows in a covered storm water drain.

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First Fleet

Fleet of eleven ships which left England in 1787 to found a penal colony in Australia. It consisted of two Royal Navy Vessels, three store ships and six convict transports which carried over 1000 convicts, marines and seamen to the colony.

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