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The Latest Breaking News from First Fleet

Before the budget: how Governor Phillip managed without cash in the colony

On January 18 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip and the ships of the First Fleet landed on the shores of New South Wales.

The Conversation · Oct 5

Australia home to two million before Europeans arrived

First Nations people suffered an estimated 93 per cent population loss in less than 80 years following the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, researchers say.

AAP · Sep 15

In 1968, Australia released 275,000 dung beetles across its cattle country to solve a problem caused by imported cattle

Australia's dung beetle problem began almost two centuries before scientists found a solution, when European settlers introduced cattle whose droppings were unlike anything most native Australian dung beetles had evolved to process. The First Fleet brought five cows and two bulls in 1788, and as cattle numbers grew, their large,…

The Times of India · Aug 19

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In 1789, one mysterious outbreak changed Australia's history; scientists may have solved it

In 1789, a horrific outbreak devastated Indigenous Australians around Sydney Harbor. Up to 70% of local First Nations people died. For over 200 years, the cause remained a mystery. Now, scientists solved it. Computer modeling points directly to the British First Fleet. Dried smallpox scabs, carried in medical vials, likely…

The Economic Times · Jul 23

British vial of smallpox scabs triggered the devastating 1789 outbreak among Indigenous Australians, study finds

It's long been debated what started the devastating 1789 smallpox outbreak among Indigenous Australians. Now, a new modeling study has the likely answer.

LiveScience · Jul 20

In 1788, cats were brought to Australia after more than 200 years later, the country's native wildlife is still paying the price

The domestic cat arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788, introduced as a familiar companion and a practical way to control rodents. Within decades, many had escaped or been abandoned, gradually establishing wild populations far beyond early settlements. By the late nineteenth century, they had spread across almost…

The Times of India · Jul 9

Outback town mayor pulls out of Australia Day events

Alice Springs will go ahead with Australia Day formalities without the mayor, who says the January 26 celebration harms parts of her community.

AAP · Jan 21

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Impacts of colonisation on dingoes are ‘written in their bones’, new research finds

Dingoes are no ordinary dogs. They trace their roots back to an ancient Asian lineage and made their way to Australia more than 3,500 years ago.

The Conversation · Nov 24, 2025

From reflection to resistance: how mob will mark Jan 26

January 26 brings mixed emotions for many Indigenous people, with some reflecting or mourning, gathering for protests or spending time on Country.

AAP · Jan 24, 2025

Captain Cook statue disfigured and painted red in Sydney ahead of Australia Day

Police say they are investigating incident which saw statue’s hand and nose knocked off

The Independent UK · Jan 24, 2025

Casting a spotlight on the Black convicts of African descent who helped shape Australia

It is a new idea to many Australians that their past is connected to the tragic history of transatlantic slavery.

The Conversation · Nov 19, 2024

Sirius House losing its 'controversial' moniker in a private renaming ceremony

APS office is getting its new name, but the public is not invited.

The Canberra Times · Aug 30, 2024

Health to rename Sirius Building following staff concerns

The change will take effect next month.

The Canberra Times · Aug 9, 2024

Exploring stories from wonderful Wallabadah

Out-of-the-way village has a fascinating history

Newcastle Herald · Jun 23, 2024

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The Canberra Times · Apr 12, 2024

Sirius talk: What you said about Health's plan to ditch First Fleet connection

Readers speak out on plans to rename Sirius building.

The Canberra Times · Apr 11, 2024

'Pointless petulance': Howard blasts Sirius renaming

More signs of First Fleet removed by Department of Health.

The Canberra Times · Apr 9, 2024

'You cannot be Sirius': First Fleet link 'concern' prompts building name change

But no objections to nearby building named after a convict ship.

ABC News · Aug 18, 2022

Meet the families who uprooted their lives to help create Australian cotton's lasting legacy

From a cottage industry to leaders in the global export market, Australian cotton farmers have pioneered their product from the First Fleet to today — and they're not done yet.

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The Conversation · Aug 4, 2022

Friday essay: a slave state - how blackbirding in colonial Australia created a legacy of racism

In July 2021, Jack Dempsey, the mayor of Bundaberg, delivered an official apology for Northern Queensland’s past reliance on the indentured labour of Pacific Islanders, many of whom were kidnapped (or “blackbirded”) and forced to work on the state’s cane plantations. “To say sorry,” explained Dempsey, “is a start in…

ABC News · Apr 28, 2022

'Things would be very different:' How the French almost colonised Australia

If it wasn't for a series of events in Britain, France and at sea, Australia could have a very different history.

Reuters · Jan 26, 2022

Protests, citizenship festivities mark contentious Australia Day holiday

Thousands rallied against the mistreatment of Indigenous people across Australia on Wednesday as citizenship ceremonies took place to mark the country's national day intended to celebrate the birth of modern Australia.

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