When the HMS Sirius was wrecked on the coral reef at Slaughter Bay, near Norfolk Island, 230 years ago this month, it was an absolutely devastating blow to the new settlement in Sydney.

With most of the First Fleeters close to starvation, the colony had been desperately awaiting the arrival of the ship that was laden down with much-needed supplies.

The ship was the only means of communication for those struggling to survive in an isolated new land. It was an incredibly stressful time because the settlement at Port Jackson was in danger of collapse and abandonment.

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The story of the wreck of the Sirius would have a far-reaching impact on the First Fleeters trying to survive and led to a major test of Governor Philip’s leadership when it came to rationing food to the 600 people trying to stay alive in Sydney.

Due to her role as the “flagship” of the First Fleet, the Sirius is now arguably Australia’s most important shipwreck site, yet it wasn’t until the 1980s that her important artefacts were finally recovered from the bottom of the sea.

HMS Sirius was officially the “guardian” of the First Fleet of eleven ships that set out from England on May 13, 1787 carrying convicts, marines, seamen, civil officers, as well as free people.

Originally fitted out as an armed store ship with 20 guns, the Sirius was chosen over other purpose-built warships due to its huge storage capacity. According to Sydney Living Museums, the Sirius was so heavily loaded that it was said to sail poorly and it’s no wonder — it carried an enormous number of food and livestock as well as four boats and even the ship’s surgeon’s piano.

Food in the new colony

The First Fleet carried what was thought to be two years’ worth of food but it didn’t take long for supplies to dwindle.

According to historian Jacqui Newling, if you managed to catch fish or kangaroo, you had to declare it to the authorities. But, if you were lucky enough to get yourself a wild bird, shellfish, a small marsupial or an eel, you were allowed to keep it for yourself.

Of course, those in power ate better food than everybody else. There are very few records of meals served at Government House.

But, thanks to First Fleet surgeon George Worgan, who wrote a journal about his impressions of the first six months of European settlement we know what a fancy dinner party looked like if you scored a seat at Governor Phillip’s dining table.

After a celebration of the King’s birthday on June 4, 1788, Worgan wrote: “[At] about 2 o’clock we sat down to a very good entertainment, considering how far we are from Leaden — Hall [the London] Market, it consisted of mutton, pork ducks, fowls, fish, kangaroo, sallads, pies & preserved fruits.

“The potables consisted of port, lisbon, madeira, teneriffe and good Old English porter, these went merrily round.

“[E]very gentleman standing up and filling his glass, with one voice gave, as the toast, The Governor and the Settlement, we then gave three Huzza’s, the band playing the whole time.”

Waiting for supplies to arrive

By the end of 1789 Governor Phillip was beginning to have severe doubts that a promised supply ship would ever arrive — what he didn’t realise yet was that HMS Guardian, laden with food and livestock for the colony, hit an iceberg en route to Australia in December, 1789.

With hopes dwindling that help was on its way, Phillip decided to reduce rations for adults to half the standard ration. Historian Jacqui Newling claims rations meant that everybody was entitled to a portion of salted meat, flour or biscuit, peas and rice, no matter your rank or status.

Phillip maintained very strict policies around food and he forbid the practice of food being traded. But, seeing as there was no cash economy, food became a form of currency and a black market soon developed.

When it came to rations, both convict and “free” people received the same portions (although alcohol was not given to convicts). Women usually received two-thirds of the standard allocation but as stores dwindled further, Phillip decided the women could receive the same amount of food as the men.

Phillip also donated his own supply of flour (about 150 kgs), which resulted in about two weeks worth of bread rations for the 600 people in Sydney.

There’s long been criticism of the suffering of the new settlers, considering they lived in a land of abundance.

Historian Jacqui Newling: “Within two years of settlement the colony faced the prospect of famine and starvation on land that had supported Aboriginal communities for thousands of years.

“It seems imprudent that Phillip did not make better use of native food resources, and was so dependent on a food supply that needed to be transported across the globe.”

Sending the Sirius

Before it embarked on its second voyage to Australia in October, 1788, the Sirius, under the leadership of Captain John Hunter, first went to Cape Town for supplies to take to Sydney. There was also a small number of convicts on-board the ship; 116 convict men, 67 convict women, as well as 27 children and 65 marines.

The plan was to drop these people off at Norfolk Island first and not add even more pressure on the struggling colony.

According to Sydney Living Museums, both the Sirius and the smaller ship Supply arrived at Norfolk Island on March 13, 1789, but the weather was so atrocious they decided it wasn’t safe to go to the usual anchorage position off the settlement at Sydney Bay (now called Kingston); instead the ships sailed around to Cascade Bay.

Two days later, all the people had been put ashore from the Supply but the weather got even worse.

Sirius Captain John Hunter wrote: “These people were no sooner on shore than the wind shifted to the eastward and the weather became hazy and blew strong so that I had no prospect of being able to land any part of the provisions.

“I knew the exhausted state of stores there … and considerations gave me much anxiety and uneasiness.”

As Captain Hunter brought the Sirius across from Phillip Island to the south point of Nepean and in to Sydney Bay he noticed that the ship was rapidly drifting towards the shore.

The Supply’s captain, Henry Lidgard Ball, tried to warn Hunter that both ships were coming dangerous close to the reef. Just as both ships sailed off, the wind changed direction which spelled disaster for the Sirius. Hunter had no choice but to turn the ship away from the wind, sailing past the landing point between Nepean Island and the east of Sydney Bay, knowing it was an impossible move.

Next — disaster struck.

Hunter wrote: “She struck upon a reef of coral rocks which lies parallel to the shore, and in a few strokes was bilged”.

It must have been very distressing for those watching onshore, including Norfolk Island’s Commandant, Philip Gidley King.

King wrote: “At noon the Sirius having twice missed stays & being embayed, struck on the outer part of the reef”.

Later, when he was able to deliver the bad news to Governor Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, King wrote: “You never saw such dismay as the news of the wreck occasioned among us all; for, to use a sea term, we looked upon her as our sheet anchor”.

Luckily the shipwreck hadn’t resulted in any loss of life. But, with news that the Guardian sank and now the Sirius had gone, the colony must have felt hopelessly marooned on a foreign shore, so far away from the old world.

As soon as the Sirius ran aground, crew members threw as much as possible overboard, hoping at least some supplies would make it to shore. Those onshore rescued everyone on-board by fastening a rope to a pine tree to help the men get to shore.

It wasn’t long before mayhem broke out — the convicts who’d promised to help rescue livestock got stuck into the alcohol and caused a fire on-board, destroying much of the supplies.

Aftermath of the wreck

The population of Norfolk Island had literally doubled overnight and starvation was a real possibility. Martial law was enforced to stop looting.

Sirius Royal marine Lieutenant Ralph Clark wrote: “Gracious God what will become of us all, the whole of our provisions in the ship, now a wreck before us.

“I hope in God that we will be able to save some if not all but why do I flatter myself with such hopes — there is at present no prospect of it except that of starving”.

And then a miracle arrived; more than 200,000 migratory birds nesting on Mount Pitt were hunted and eaten by the Norfolk Islanders. Four months later these birds were hunted to extinction.

Salvaging the wreck

In 1965 an ABC TV film crew arrived on Norfolk Island, filming the first underwater footage of the Sirius site.

The anchor was eventually raised in 1973 and, another expedition in 1985 recovered a variety of important artefacts including cannons and personal items belonging to those on-board.

All of these now reside at the Norfolk Island Museum, in clear view of the wreck site.

On a final note, let’s spare a thought for Sirius Lieutenant Ralph Clark who was very upset about losing his belongings. (Perfectly understandable and relatable.)

“My trunk came on shore with the bottom out and I am afraid the greatest part of the things which were in it are lost. no body that came in the ship has lost so many things as I have … all I can say is I am a child of bad luck”.



— LJ Charleston is news.com.au’s historical writer. Continue the conversation @LJCharleston



