Lieutenant James Cook claimed New South Wales for Great Britain in 1770. However, it was not until 1786 that a settlement was authorised there. The settlement was not for free men, but the for the unwanted convicts, their masters and protectors; the First Fleet convicts landed at Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788 and Governor Phillip lay claim officially to the country. The decision to establish a settlement in New South Wales took sixteen years. It was not the clear-cut and positive beginning to a country that it could have been. The emphasis of this report is to look at the factors that contributed to the decision and the line that the decision makers took. This has involved investigation of parliamentary debates, ministers’ letters and other sources relevant to the decision. The factors most pressing at the time for the government were the over abundance of criminals and the budget deficit. With a relatively simple move, Lord Sydney was able to relieve the first problem at the same time as his Prime Minister, William Pitt, took on the budget. It is clear that the settlement was established for the dubious benefit of relieving England of the convicts.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2008. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Psychology, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2009. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Education, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2009. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Health and Science, School of Engineering, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Humanities and Languages, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, Centre for Educational Research, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Education degree. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2009. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2008. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Health and Science, School of Computing and Mathematics, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy - Science. Includes bibliographies.

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