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Sydney

V. Woodthorpe (fl.1794—c.1802)
Sydney in History of New South Wales by George Barrington (1755—1804)
London: M. Jones, 24 December 1802
hand-coloured stipple engraving; 8.1 x 14.8 cm
U1506 NK1752/3

1797
May

Reports of coal and the probable existence of a strait between the mainland and Van Diemen’s Land are made by survivors of the Sydney Cove shipwreck (beached on Preservation Island on 9 February)

June
26 HMS Reliance returns to Port Jackson with stores and some merino sheep from the Cape of Good Hope, some of which are bought by Macarthur and Marsden

July
3 Hunter sends a party of soldiers to protect settlers in the Hawkesbury area in order to protect settlers from following Aboriginal attacks

August
George Bass finds coal on a voyage to explore southwards at present day Coalcliff

September
John Shortland discovers coal at the Hunter Estuary

December
3 Bass and six oarsmen set out to explore the southern coast of New South Wales in a whaleboat, finding the Blowhole at Kiama, the Shoalhaven River, Jervis Bay, Twofold Bay, Wilson’s Promontory and Western Port. By his return in February 1798 he reports his belief in a strait between the mainland and Van Diemen’s Land

Other
A platypus is first sighted at the Hawkesbury River