What did the First Fleet face when they arrived?

When the First Fleet arrived in New South Wales, they faced a completely undeveloped land. The uneven terrain was completely covered by native Australian trees and bushland, but it had to be cleared for farming. This took a lot of effort, with difficulties compounded by climate conditions never before faced by the British

• constant heat and humidity, as it was summer when they arrived.

Sudden hailstorms and squalls were not uncommon.

As well, the people of the First Fleet faced the uncertainty of not knowing how the Australian Aborigines would respond to their presence. At night, they were spooked by the sounds of aboriginal corroborees filtering through the bush, while cicadas deafened them in the early evening. During the day, they endured the screeches of cockatoos and other unfamiliar birds.