John “Skip” Bailey

1.1
Colonisation of Western Australia

In 1827 Captain James Stirling RN (British Royal Navy) had surveyed the west coast of Australia for a suitable site for settlement and it was growing increasingly important that the British became established there before the French and the Dutch who had explored the coast earlier.

On 13 February 1829, HMS Sulphur and the hired transport “Parmelia” sailed from England for the Swan River Settlement. Close behind were a number of vessels, rapidly adding to the little band of settlers and introducing the necessary livestock for colonisation. (A diary of the voyage from England was kept by a man onboard the Sulphur.)

The ‘first fleet’ was hardly an inspiring sight as it sailed, one at a time, into the waters of Cockburn Sound and Gage Roads, off what would become the port of Fremantle. [1]

The first ship to arrive was the HMS Challenger captained by Charles Fremantle. He was sent on ahead of the ships carrying passengers to ensure that no-one else (especially the French!) was about to land and colonise the west coast. The “Challenger” carried a detachment of marines but did not carry any permanent settlers. (HMS Challenger was not the first choice to arrive off W.A. and stand guard. Originally HMS Tweed was ordered to proceed to Swan River but this was later changed. If the “Tweed” had been the ship to arrive first, the port town of Fremantle would have probably been named Churchill, after the Captain of HMS Tweed.)

First sight of the W.A. coastline was made off Cape Leschenault on April 24th 1829 and the following day the “Challenger” anchored off Rottnest Island. On April 27th the ship sailed into Cockburn Sound and a party of men and officers first stepped ashore on Garden Island on April 28th. On May 2nd Captain Fremantle finally set foot on the mainland and a proclamation was read claiming the whole west coast of New Holland (Australia) for the British crown.

The next ship to arrive was the “Parmelia” (Captain J. H. Luscombe) on the 31st of May 1829, carrying Governor Stirling and the first intrepid settlers. This ship almost came to grief when she was stranded on a shoal overnight until she was re-floated the following day. It was not an auspicious beginning.

During the grounding of the “Parmelia”, a number of women and children were off loaded. Some were taken aboard HMS Challenger and others were landed on Carnac Island where they spent five wet, cold and miserable days with little food and practically no shelter.

Following the “Parmelia” was the HMS Sulphur (Commander William Townsend Dance) on June 8th (some sources quote the arrival date as June 6th). This ship carried troops from the 63rd Regiment for the protection of the settlers. HMS Sulphur was originally a ‘bomb’ – a ship carrying mortars used for coastal bombardment, but she was converted to a sloop and carried an armament of 6 x 24 pounder and 2 x 6 pounder guns.

A painting In the Western Australian Art Gallery, Perth, W.A. shows Governor Stirling reading the Declaration of the Foundation of the Swan River Colony. On his right is Captain Frederick Chidley Irwin of the 63rd Regiment 2nd Company. An officer and soldiers of the 63rd Regiment are shown in the background.

Proclamation of the Swan River Colony 12th August 1829 [2]

During the three years spent in Australia the Regiment had its headquarters in Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s land (now Tasmania) with the rest of the Regiment split into detachments varying in strength from 71 all ranks to just 2 private soldiers, amongst 47 different posts all over the colonies.

The Regiments next 13½ years were spent in India and Burma. Sadly, disease took its toll and during this period the 63rd lost 24 officers, 51 Sergeants, 24 Corporals, 6 Drummers and 604 Private Soldiers. [3]

------------------------------
[1] http://wanowandthen.com/
[2] Western Australia Art Gallery
[3] Museum of the Manchester Regiment - 63rd Regiment of Foot