HMS Sirius

HMS Sirius was originally known as Berwick, was launched in 1780, she was also the flagship of the First Fleet, which departed  from Portsmouth, England, in 1787 under the command of  Captain John Hunter. Captain Arthur Phillip who was part of the voyage would be the first European governor of the new colony in New South Wales, Australia.

They have sailed through Rio de Janeiro and Good Hope to finally settle in Sydney Cove, Port Jackson. However, in 1790, the ship was smashed on the reef Norfolk Island while disembarking supplies and Sirius‘s crew was aground on Norfolk Island until 21 February 1791.They were ultimately saved and returned back to England whereas Captain Hunter went back to New South Wales, fulfilling the position as the colony’s Governor from 1795 to 1799.

Some objects which were salvaged after the wreck are exposed in the Norfolk Island Museum like an anchor and a cannon, which are also on exhibition in Macquarie Place, Sydney. Other relics as well as an anchor can be observed at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Some small models of all the First Fleet ships are also on display in the Museum of Sydney.