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412904

Title
Collection 02: William Bradley journal titled `A Voyage to New South Wales', December 1786-May 1792, compiled ca. 1802
Creator
William Bradley, approximately 1757-1833
Call number
Safe 1/14
Level of description
sub-fonds
Date

December 1786-May 1792, compiled ca. 1802
Type of material
Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Manuscript Cartographic Materials, Drawings
Reference code
412904
Issue Copy
DigitisedPhotocopy : A 3631
Physical Description
1 volume of textual material - manuscript
ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

William Bradley served in the Royal Navy for 42 years. He sailed with the First Fleet in May 1787 following his appointment to First Lieutenant on board HMS Sirius in October 1786.
Bradley's journal records his impressions of the colony and reflects his particular interest in Aboriginal people and natural history.
After arriving at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788, he was immediately deployed to assist John Hunter on a series of surveys of Sydney Harbour. Bradleys Point on the northern harbour shore was named for him.
From October to May 1789 he sailed with Hunter to the Cape of Good Hope, via New Zealand and Cape Horn, to procure provisions for the settlement.
In November 1789, to his displeasure and distaste, he was one of the party ordered by Governor Arthur Phillip to capture two Aborigines, Colebee and Bennelong, with the intention of learning about their customs and language.
Bradley sailed to Norfolk Island in March 1790. When the Sirius wrecked on arrival, on 19 March, he was forced to remain on the island for 11 months. He undertook a survey of the island during this period before returning to Port Jackson on the Supply.
In March 1791 Bradley returned to England on board the Dutch chartered ship Waaksamheid, sailing via the Philipines. In England he was one of several officers, including Hunter, court martialled over the loss of the Sirius. All were honourably acquitted.
Following Governor Phillip's request, Bradley was promoted to the rank of Master and Commander, in July 1792. Special reference was made of his survey work on Norfolk Island.
He rose to the rank of Rear Admiral of the Blue and was superannuated in September 1812. (see Mollie Gillen, The founders of Australia; Australian Dictionary of Biography)
Scope and Content
MAPS
This collection includes 14 manuscript maps titled [Bradley's manuscript charts] [cartographic material] / By William Bradley located at SAFE/MT4 140/1792/1.
Finding Aids
Read the transcription here: acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2015/D02131/a138.html
Published Information
This journal has been published in facsimile: William Bradley, A voyage to New South Wales (Sydney: Trustees of the Public Library of New South Wales, 1969).
General note

It is bound with covers dating from the late 1800s, attached to the existing spine.

Facsimilie copy available on open access in the Mitchell Library Reading Room at ML Ref. 1/981/54A3-4. Another copy at ML 981/54A1-2.
Microfilm copy available at CY 1885, frames 1-351.

This journal has been digitised as part of the Nelson Meers Foundation Benefaction, 2002.
Digital order no:Album ID : 823591
Date note

This journal was probably compiled some years after the events it records. It seems to be a fair copy compiled after 1802. Page 48 bears a watermark for the year 1802.
Name
Sirius (Ship)
Waaksamheyd (Ship)
Subject
Aboriginal Australians--First contact with Europeans.
Natural history--Australia.
Place
Norfolk Island
Port Jackson (N.S.W.)
Exhibited in

Dare to know : the art and science of Pacific voyages - State Library of New South Wales (1 June - 28 November, 1998)
Painting the Pacific - State Library of New South Wales (January 2002 - April 2002)
Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - Jan 2003 - Mar 2004
Artist colony: drawing Sydney’s nature - State Library of New South Wales. Applies to: `Entrance to Port Jackson 27 January 1788', drawing opp. p. 65 ; a3461010
UNESCO Six - State Library of New South Wales (October, 2018 - May, 2019)
Open Rosetta viewer
IE1612158