History is based on historians' interpretations of sources that remain from that time. First hand

testimony and records that give direct access to the past are referred to as primary sources. These

sources have not continued to exist by chance. The reason they have survived is that someone deemed

them worthy of preservation. However there are some that survive by accident. These sources restrict

and shape an historian's interpretation, however, different historians still have conflicting ideas about

certain events in history. These differences in opinion are the result of the fragmentary and selective

nature of the sources available. People have a great deal of scope to interpret sources differently.

History cannot speak for itself; historians speak for it. Therefore historians put forward their own

interpretation of history, as they understand it from the documents available.

One event in Australian history that is of particular interest to historians is the decision made by the

British government in seventeen eighty-eight to establish a colony in New South Wales

Thirdly, the "Strategic Motive", which is closely related to the Trade Motive, was developed in the

cheaper rate then those materials [they] at present [got] from Russia" (Martin (ed.) 1978, p.19). He also

Government" (Martin (ed.) 1975, p.18). Not only did they need a place to dump convicts, but loyalists

colonisation of NSW was trade. Botany Bay (and later Port Jackson) was intended to be a crucial port

'dump' the convicts. There is no way to prove either is true, or not, but there is certainly evidence that

As the documents recording the principal discourse regarding the settling are so limited and

interpretation and imagination needed in order to find them. This is where different histories emerge.

Australia in nineteen thirty-seven. He believed that "there is no shred of evidence that if the gaols of

Some common words found in the essay are:
South Wales, Botany Bay, Meaning England, Wales History, Foundation Australia, Wales NSW, Dumping Motive', Russia Martin, Maria Mantra, Arthur Phillip's, botany bay, south wales, seventeen eighty-eight, british government, records south, records south wales, martin ed, historical records south, 2 pp, 1 2, wales 1, norfolk island, wales 1 2, 1 2 pp, south wales 1,
Approximate Word count = 2106
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)