Australia Through the Eyes of an Eighty-Five Year Old Man

By Trevor Wrightson

James Cook’s discovery of Australia changed the course of history.

In this book, the author highlights the explorer’s early life and the early settlement of the country.

He also reveals how the land became a rich country with people who enjoy a high standard of living. Find out how Australians formed a government and how the cattle industry and natural resources such as coal, iron ore, uranium, aluminum, oxide, lithium, and gold have helped them advance.

You’ll also learn about the toll the Great Depression had on Australia, leading to a thirty percent unemployment rate. When World War II commenced in 1939, thousands of young men and women joined the army so they could have a job, thinking it would be all over in a couple of months.

The book also highlights more recent challenges, such as the refugee crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, which swept through Australia when passengers on a tourist ship were allowed to disembark.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Dec 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781982292768

Trevor Wrightson

Trevor Wrightson worked in Power Stations for over 40 years, 30 of those years as an Electrical Supervisor. After retirement from the Electricity Commission of New South Wales he taught Electrical Theory to Electrical Apprentices and Tradesmen for a further five years.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

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CAPTAIN JAMES COOK

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK WAS BORN on 7th of November, 1727 in Martin Yorkshire, England. Although born in Yorkshire, he grew up with a slight Scottish accent and was educated at the Post Gate School Yorkshire. He was a tall man, over six feet in height and his first job was working in a Grocery store at the age of seventeen.

He obtained an Apprenticeship with John Walker, the owner of a private shipping company and went to sea at the age of eighteen. He resigned from the ship company and joined the Royal Navy in 1755, where he studied hard at Maths and Navigation. He was soon recognised for his abilities and was sent to navigate and map the Lawrence River in America. In1786, he met and married, Elizabeth Bas and had a family of six children.

In 1868, Cook was promoted to Lieutenant and given a boat called the ‘Endeavour.’ His job was to observe and navigate the planet Venus, as it travelling across the face of the sun at Tahiti. He was also selected, to explore the Pacific Ocean in search of Continents.

After sailing around Cape Horn, he discovered Hawaii and New Zealand and spent the next six months mapping both Islands of New Zealand. He then set sail west, where on the 19th April, 1770, he discovered the South Coast of Eastern Australia. Sailing up the coast, he arrived at Botany Bay on 29th April, where he was greeted by an angry mob of Aboriginals. After spending eight days at Botany Bay he sailed north mapping the East Coast of Australia, claiming the newfound Continent for England. He sailed back to England after a long three year voyage.

Captain Cook’s next voyage, was to the Pacific and whilst visiting Hawaii, when aged 52, he was clubbed and stabbed in the neck, by the local natives. The natives believed his wisdom was in his bones, so they boiled parts of his body, removed some of his bones and placed them in a sacred place. The remains of Cook’s body were taken back to England for burial. What a tragedy for such a great man!

CHAPTER TWO

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SETTLEMENT IN AUSTRALIA

IN THE LATE SEVENTEEN HUNDREDS England fell on hard times and many people were unemployed. As there was no dole payments in those times many people stole food and other items from shops and were subsequently jailed for their crimes. Very soon the jails were full so the government decided to send the convicted people to the newly claimed Continent of Australia.

Eleven ships, filled with convicts, were transported to the new Country under the control of Governor Phillip. They arrived at Botany Bay on the 26th of January 1778 after a six month journey, with many people dying on board, due to the harsh conditions. When they arrived at Botany Bay there was no fresh water available, so Phillip travelled up the Coast searching for water. He entered Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) where he found a creek with fresh water. He named the creek, Tank Stream and as it had plenty of fresh water flowing into the Harbour, he moved the Settlement there.

The first fleet of eleven ships, each no larger than a Manly ferry, contained 1,480 convicts, 7 horses, 6 cows, 2 bulls, 29 sheep and 16 pigs and a few goats. The majority of Convicts remained on board until other convicts built huts and tents to house them. They were then put to work, building roads and buildings and vegetable gardens. There were many skirmishes with the Aboriginal natives who objected to the new settlers, with many of the Aboriginals being shot.

While Captain Cook was exploring Australia, he reported the discovery of Norfolk Island, in 1773 (which is North East miles from Sydney). He stated that there were trees growing on the island that grew very straight and tall and would be suitable for ship masts.

Six weeks after the landing, 7 men and 15 Convicts, led by Phillip Gidley King, settled on Norfolk Island to investigate the use of the Norfolk pines. They found that the trees had too many knots and were unsuitable as ship masts. A total of 57 Convicts were sent to the Island, but it was closed in 1814, due to it being too expensive to maintain.

The convicts commenced constructing buildings and roads and vegetable gardens. Many of the Convicts were skilled tradesmen, Carpenter’s, Painters, Stone Masons and Architects. After a Convict had completed serving his time, he was given a Certificate of Leave. After enjoying the warmer climate, many of the Convicts chose to settle in Australia, rather than returning to England. Many of them commenced their own business and became quite wealthy.

CHAPTER THREE

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1800 - 1850

AS SYDNEY WAS EXPANDING AND running out of