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The Library is open over the October long weekend, with reduced hours on Monday 2 October 2023. View the long weekend opening hours here.

Journals of the First Fleet

with transcriptions

Journals of the First Fleet

The State Library holds an unrivalled collection of journals from the First Fleet. Written by naval and marine corps officers, as well as seamen and surgeons, these journals paint, in vivid detail, the voyage to and early settlement of Australia between 1787 and the 1790s.

Read the transcripts here.

Collection 01: Arthur Bowes-Smyth, illustrated journal, 1787-1789. Title page.

Arthur Bowes Smyth, illustrated journal, 1787-1789

Transcription of Arthur Bowes Smyth's journal

William Bradley - Journal. Title page, with beginning of journal entry.

William Bradley, journal, 1786-1782

Transcription of William Bradley's journal

Ralph Clark - Journal kept on the Friendship during a voyage to Botany Bay and Norfolk Island; and on the Gorgon returning to England. "List of Convicts on board the Friendship".

Ralph Clark, journal, 1787-1792

Transcription of Ralph Clark's journal

John Easty - Journal, 1786-1793. Journal entry.

John Easty, journal, 1786-1793

Transcription of John Easty's journal

John Hunter - journal kept on board the Sirius during a voyage to New South Wales, May 1787 - March 1791. Journal entry.

John Hunter, journal, 1787-1791

Transcription of John Hunter's journal

Philip Gidley King - Private journal, in two volumes, 1786-1792. Volume 1, title page.

Philip Gidley King, journal (vol. 1), 1786-1792

Transcription of Philip Gidley King's journal, Volume 1

rivate journal, in two volumes, 1786-1792. Volume 2, title page.

Philip Gidley King, journal (vol. 2), 1786-1792

Transcription of Philip Gidley King's journal, Volume 2

Philip Gidley King, journal (fair copy), 1786-1792

Transcription of Fair copy of Philip Gidley King's journal

memoir. Titled `Jacob Nagle his Book A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Nine May 19th. Canton. Stark County Ohio', 1775-1802, compiled 1829. Title page.

Jacob Nagle, journal, 1775-1802

Transcription of Jacob Nagle's journal

James Scott, journal, 1787-1792

Transcription of James Scott's journal

George Bouchier Worgan, letter and journal, 1788

Transcription of George Bouchier Worgan's journal

Discover Exhibitions, stories and more

UNESCO SIX

Saturday 6 October 2018 to Sunday 5 May 2019
Free
Exhibition

Our UNESCO World Heritage collections displayed together for the very first time.

Blocks of coloured black and white histrorical photograph

First Fleet Collection

The First Fleet Collection includes journals, letters, drawings, maps and charts created by those who travelled with the First Fleet of British ships to Australia. It is one of the Library’s most significant and valuable collections.

Voyages of discovery

Europeans had been searching for rich new lands in the Southern Hemisphere long before Captain James Cook arrived on the east coast of Australia in 1770. Explore the State Library's incredible maps, journals, drawings and books.
Map of the world