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Colonial Events 1797

Wreck of the Sydney Cove on Preservation Island. The following June Captain Hamilton, the commander of the Sydney-Cove passed away.'He never recovered from the distresses and hardships which he suffered on the loss of his ship and died exceedingly regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.' - The history of New South Wales: from its first discovery to the present time By G. Paterson

May 27

Arrival of convict ship Britannia. Thomas Denott master - Description of mutiny on the Britannia and a new arrival's first impression of a Kangaroo

June 2

Arrival of ship Ganges. Surgeon James Mileham. Master Thomas Patrickson

August

Coal discovered at Coalcliff.

August

Mutiny on board transport Lady Shore

August

Colonial vessel Cumberland seized by prisoners

September 19

Lieutenant Shortland returned to Sydney with the news that he had entered and named the Hunter River - Hunter River Discovered by Lieut. John Shortland.

December 3

Departure of George Bass, naval surgeon of HMS Reliance to explore South coast to Western Port. George Bass and six oarsmen left Sydney in a 28ft whaleboat to explore the south coast of NSW. He sighted the blowhole at Kiama, the Shoalhaven River, Jervis Bay and Twofold Bay before continuing south to try to prove the existence of a strait between Van Diemens Land and the mainland.