George Austin (gardener)
Encyclopedia
George Austin was one of two gardeners trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
, in London and sent by Joseph Banks
to care for plants on a voyage to the British colony in New Holland
(Australia) in 1789.
, Austin travelled on the storeship carrying supplies to the new colony as a follow-up to the ships of the First Fleet
which had arrived at Botany Bay
in January 1788. The vessel was specially fitted out to carry agricultural crops to the new colony and the two gardeners were to care for the plants during the voyage.
Joseph Banks was a wealthy and influential botanist who planned much of the ship’s cargo. He had designed and paid for construction of a ‘special plant-cabin’ to protect the more fragile plants from wind and salt spray. The Guardian’s quarter-deck was crowded with over 100 boxes and tubs of trees, bulbs, plants and seedlings, selected from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Special racks were made for the pots.
Banks gave the gardeners strict and extensive instructions concerning the care of the plants and even encouraging them to avoid drunkenness. Upon arrival the gardeners were to then collect seed and live plants for return to Banks and Kew Gardens. They were to train a sailor to care for the plants on this return journey as they were to stay in the colony. They were also ordered to collect plants and seed only for Banks and Kew. Supplying collections to others could be a lucrative business and, it seems, Austin in defiance of Banks had promised to collect seed for nurserymen in England. Austin tried to persuade Smith to join his scheme but Smith wrote to Banks to tell him of Austin's plans. All to be of no consequence as it turned out.
The Guardian under the command of Lieutenant Edward Riou
set sail from Spithead
on 8 September 1789, and had an uneventful voyage to the Cape of Good Hope
, arriving on 24 November 1789 loaded with provisions, farm machinery, agricultural crops and livestock to a value of some £70,000, together with convicts and their overseers. Here at the Cape the ship took on more provisions, plants and convicts. On Christmas Eve, twelve days after his departure from the Cape, and with the animals and plants making heavy demands on the ship’s water supply, the sighting of an iceberg was an opportunity to collect fresh water. In poor weather conditions the ship collided with the iceberg, was badly damaged and, being in danger of sinking, Riou allowed most of the crew to take to the Guardians boats, Austin and Smith being among those that took to boats that were never seen again. Riou managed to struggle back to the Cape taking nine weeks and here the ship was run aground to prevent her sinking, only to be wrecked during a hurricane. The remains were sold in 1790. Riou survived this event only to be killed by round shot
at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, in London and sent by Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
to care for plants on a voyage to the British colony in New Holland
New Holland (Australia)
New Holland is a historic name for the island continent of Australia. The name was first applied to Australia in 1644 by the Dutch seafarer Abel Tasman as Nova Hollandia, naming it after the Dutch province of Holland, and remained in use for 180 years....
(Australia) in 1789.
Mission to Australia
Together with fellow gardener James SmithJames Smith (gardener)
James Smith was one of two gardeners trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London and sent by Joseph Banks to care for plants on a voyage to the British colony in New Holland in 1789...
, Austin travelled on the storeship carrying supplies to the new colony as a follow-up to the ships of the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
which had arrived at Botany Bay
Botany Bay
Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. The Cooks River and the Georges River are the two major tributaries that flow into the bay...
in January 1788. The vessel was specially fitted out to carry agricultural crops to the new colony and the two gardeners were to care for the plants during the voyage.
Joseph Banks was a wealthy and influential botanist who planned much of the ship’s cargo. He had designed and paid for construction of a ‘special plant-cabin’ to protect the more fragile plants from wind and salt spray. The Guardian’s quarter-deck was crowded with over 100 boxes and tubs of trees, bulbs, plants and seedlings, selected from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Special racks were made for the pots.
Banks gave the gardeners strict and extensive instructions concerning the care of the plants and even encouraging them to avoid drunkenness. Upon arrival the gardeners were to then collect seed and live plants for return to Banks and Kew Gardens. They were to train a sailor to care for the plants on this return journey as they were to stay in the colony. They were also ordered to collect plants and seed only for Banks and Kew. Supplying collections to others could be a lucrative business and, it seems, Austin in defiance of Banks had promised to collect seed for nurserymen in England. Austin tried to persuade Smith to join his scheme but Smith wrote to Banks to tell him of Austin's plans. All to be of no consequence as it turned out.
Voyage
Edward Riou
Edward Riou was an officer of the Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary Wars under several of the most distinguished naval officers of his age and won fame and honour for two incidents in particular....
set sail from Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
on 8 September 1789, and had an uneventful voyage to the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
, arriving on 24 November 1789 loaded with provisions, farm machinery, agricultural crops and livestock to a value of some £70,000, together with convicts and their overseers. Here at the Cape the ship took on more provisions, plants and convicts. On Christmas Eve, twelve days after his departure from the Cape, and with the animals and plants making heavy demands on the ship’s water supply, the sighting of an iceberg was an opportunity to collect fresh water. In poor weather conditions the ship collided with the iceberg, was badly damaged and, being in danger of sinking, Riou allowed most of the crew to take to the Guardians boats, Austin and Smith being among those that took to boats that were never seen again. Riou managed to struggle back to the Cape taking nine weeks and here the ship was run aground to prevent her sinking, only to be wrecked during a hurricane. The remains were sold in 1790. Riou survived this event only to be killed by round shot
Round shot
Round shot is a solid projectile without explosive charge, fired from a cannon. As the name implies, round shot is spherical; its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the gun it is fired from.Round shot was made in early times from dressed stone, but by the 17th century, from iron...
at the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.