Who was Governor Arthur Phillip?
Phillip was the founding Governor of the Colony of New South Wales and 2014 marked the 200th anniversary of his death at his home in Bath, England, on 31 August 1814.
As Commander of the First Fleet, Captain Arthur Phillip led 11 ships, some little bigger than a Sydney ferry, on a remarkable eight month voyage. The success of the voyage with minimal loss of life was due to Phillip’s care and planning prior to their departure from Portsmouth, England. On arrival at Botany Bay, Phillip found the site unsuitable and searched for a more habitable site for settlement which he found in Port Jackson - the site of Sydney today.
From Government House, where the Museum of Sydney now stands, Governor Phillip ruled the colony and its 1500 inhabitants with absolute power and responsibility for its survival. His determination and strength as a leader was tested during the first years of settlement when crops failed, supply ships did not come, his authority was challenged and initial attempts to broker a harmonious relationship with the local Aboriginal people were largely unsuccessful.
In spite of these hardships the colony prospered and Phillip is remembered today for his many achievements. His vision of a British outpost of free settlers helped grow an undistinguished penal colony into a global city.
Sydney Living Museums developed a strong and exciting program of events that sought to explore Phillip and his pivotal role in the early history of Sydney and the development of the modern nation of Australia.
Governor Phillip Memorial at first Government House
A sixty year old memorial to Governor Arthur Phillip has been installed at the Museum of Sydney on the site of Australia’s first Government House.The public unveiling of the 1954 memorial formed the centrepiece of the NSW State Government’s program of events commemorating the bicentenary of Governor Arthur Phillip’s death and his long legacy of achievements.
First Government House foundation plate
The piece of copper plate that telegraph line worker Robert McCann uncovered in 1899 had been placed between the two sandstone blocks 111 years earlier by Governor Arthur Phillip. On 15 May 1788 Governor Phillip laid the foundation plate to mark the start of the building of Government House.
Ambition and adventure: the early life of Arthur Phillip
On the bicentenary of Arthur Phillip’s death we look back at the early life of this intriguing man, who had enjoyed an extraordinary career before he even set foot on a boat bound for Botany Bay.