Home | History Hub for Kids | First Settlement of WA
First Settlement
Major Edmund Lockyer
On the 4th November 1826, Major Edmund Lockyer of the 57th Regiment was given orders to establish the first settlement on the west coast of New Holland (Australia) at King George Sound and claim Western Australia for Britain.​
​
On the 9th November 1826, the brig Amity with Captain Hansen, Lieutenant Festing RN, as sailing master, Major Lockyer as commander, Isaac Scott Ninds, surgeon, Major Lockyer's son, Edmund, twenty three convicts, eighteen troops from the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment under the command of Captain Joseph Wakefield, three wives and two children with supplies and various plants and animals, set off from Sydney Cove on the greatest of the brig Amity's many voyages.
​
The brig Amity arrived at King George Sound on Christmas Day, 25th December 1826 staying onboard the brig Amity until the 26th December 1826, where Major Lockyer and Lieutenant Colson Festing came ashore searching many locations. It was decided to settle a camp at the bottom of Parade Street where a stream of fresh water flowed into the sea. This stream is still there today and is near where the replica of the brig Amity is.
H.M Colonial brig Amity
In 1816, at a ship yard in New Brunswick, Canada a black birch brig was being built. She was called the brig Amity, a word meaning 'Friendship'. For many years the brig Amity was used as a merchant vessel trading between America and Britain before being brought to Australia in 1824.
​
The brig was sold in 1824 to the Government of New South Wales in Sydney and was used for many voyages around the east coast of New Holland (Australia) but the brig Amity would also carry the first European settlers to Queensland at Moreton Bay and King George Sound, Western Australia.
​
On the 9th November 1826, the brig Amity set off on a voyage that would lay the foundation of the first settlement of Western Australia. Battling rough seas the brig Amity arrived at King George Sound on Christmas Day in 1826 and anchored in the calm harbour, near where the Replica of the brig Amity sits today.
Twenty Three Convicts
Twenty three convicts were chosen in Sydney as workers to establish the new settlement at King George Sound. They made the journey onboard the brig Amity. The convicts were skilled labourers serving sentences from seven years to life. The youngest of the convicts, Frances Elliot was 17 years old, George Metham was the oldest, aged 48 and some of the convicts had no idea of their age. Eleven were English, eleven were Irish and one, a John Ryan was American.
Four convicts escaped from the King George Sound Colony and were not recaptured, these were Thomas Woodward, January 1830, John Marsden, 8th February 1831, George Metham and John Smith on 11th February 1831.
​​
The convicts names onboard the brig Amity were; James Shuttleworth, William Kearney, John Ryan, James White, Thomas Edwards, John McCabe, Denis Dineen, Henry Magee, James Lander, John Cavanagh, Frances Elliot, George Metham, John Scott, Matthew Gill, Thomas Woodward, William Thacker, Edward Murphy, Charles Griffiths, Thomas Keegan, Thomas Noel, James McKone, John Smith, and John Marsden.
King George Sound Settlement
Major Lockyer with Lieutenant Colson Festing, chose the area at the bottom of Parade Street known as Residency Point as the new settlement. This was the same site that Captain Matthew Flinders had chosen and had pitched his tent in 1802. ​Major Lockyer was happy with the beautiful view around the settlement and the two hills, Mount Clarence (Corndarup) and Mount Melville (Kardarup) being good for the location of the new settlement.
​
By the 30th December 1826, everyone had disembarked from the brig including the convicts and supply stores had been completed. The troops and convicts set up camp and would find materials to build huts to give them shelter. Major Lockyer was worried about the quality of the poor soil for growing vegetables and the lack of supplies.
​
On the 2nd and 3rd of January 1827, the new settlers worked to dig a garden and build the stores hut, troop barracks and animal pens. By the 10th January 1827, the convicts had started the building work for housing, the garden was dug and plenty of fish were caught that kept the small group of people fed. In 1827, the farm at Strawberry Hill Farm was established and was the first government farm and the first wheat, maize and barley crops of Western Australia.​
Fredericktown
On the 21st January 1827, following instructions from the Colonial Secretary, Major Lockyer raised the Union Jack (British flag) and announced that on behalf of the British Crown, the first settlement on the west coast of New Holland (Australia) is claimed for Britain.​ ​Major Lockyer named the settlement ‘Fredericktown’ in honour of His Royal Highness Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany.
​At sunrise the colours were displayed on the Flag Staff and at twelve o’clock a Royal Salute was fired from the Battery and a Fei de Joie ‘fire of joy’ by the Troops. A extra allowance of flour with raisins and suet 'pudding' was ordered and many fish were caught. A number of Menang people came to the settlement on the morning and everyone had a feast.​
