<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs expansion . You can help by adding to it . (August 2015) </Td> </Tr> <P> Within a month of the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, a group of convicts and free settlers were sent to take control of Norfolk Island, a small island 1,412 kilometres (877 mi) east of the coast of New South Wales . More convicts were sent, and many of them proved to be unruly; early 1789 saw a failed attempt to overthrow Lieutenant Philip Gidley King, the island's commandant . This was followed by the wreck of the HMS Sirius on one of the island's reefs while attempting to land stores . </P> <P> In 1803, a British expedition was sent from Sydney to Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen's Land) to establish a new penal colony there . The small party, led by Lt. John Bowen, established a settlement at Risdon Cove, on the eastern side of the Derwent River . Originally sent to Port Philip, but abandoned within weeks, another expedition led by Lieutenant - Colonel David Collins arrived soon after . Collins considered the Risdon Cove site inadequate, and in 1804 he established an alternative settlement on the western side of the river at Sullivan's Cove, Tasmania . This later became known as Hobart, and the original settlement at Risdon Cove was deserted . Collins became the first Lieutenant - Governor of Van Diemen's Land . </P> <P> When the convict station on Norfolk Island was abandoned in 1807 - 1808, the remaining convicts and free settlers were transported to Hobart and allocated land for re-settlement . However, as the existing small population was already experiencing difficulties producing enough food, the sudden doubling of the population was almost catastrophic . </P>

Australia is the only continent settled as a penal colony