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Native under rock

Edward Dayes (1763—1804)
after Thomas Watling (b.1762)
[Natives under Rock in Bad Weather] c.1797
watercolour; 8.1 x 13 cm
R292

1799
January
7 Bass and Flinders complete their circumnavigation of Van Diemen’s Land having explored the Tamar Estuary, climbed Mt Wellington and confirmed the existence of Bass Strait

February
11 The public gaol in Sydney is deliberately burnt down

28 Hunter issues another general order prohibiting distilling of spirits

March
The Hawkesbury River floods after torrential rains

June
4-6 Violent storms cause much damage in Sydney

July
8 Flinders leaves Port Jackson in the Norfolk to explore the coast to the north, examining Moreton Bay, and Hervey Bay

October
18 Five settlers on the Hawkesbury are found guilty of murdering two Aboriginal people. They are subsequently pardoned

December
28 The gaol at Parramatta is deliberately burnt down

Other
The estimated population New South Wales is 5,088 (1,724 convicts)