A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson

"A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson" by Watkin Tench is a historical record from the late 1700s that tells the story of the first British colony in New South Wales. The book is all about what life was like for the people who lived there – the settlers, the prisoners, and the soldiers – and the troubles they faced in the early days. The story starts with why Tench wanted to write about this place, building on another story he’d already written, and shows how hard life was. It describes when the ships first arrived at Botany Bay and how the settlers set up camp in Port Jackson. We learn how they struggled every day to find food, deal with the tough environment, and get along with the native people. Tench also talks about the work of establishing the colony, sharing the early problems, dreams, and the mixing of cultures that made life both difficult and hopeful for the settlers in this new world.