First Fleet

We discovered the First Fleet Memorial Park quite by accident, and found it an exceptionally well created memorial to those brave people who ventured out to Australia with the First and Second Fleets - both voluntarily, and those incarcerated with little choice as to their future.

Just off the Highway about 50 kms south of Tamworth in country NSW (north west of Sydney) at a small village named Wallabadah, we came across this gem. It had been the idea of stone mason, Ray Collins, who had discovered his ancestors had been convicts arriving with the First Fleet. Their surname then had been Cross, but in an effort to hide their convict ancestry, it had been changed to Collins. This did not deter Ray Collins, who was proud of his convict ancestry, and he wanted to preserve and immortalise those people who colonised this vast country.

With the help of a nephew Shannon Collins, who designed the gardens, Ray approached many of the local councils, only to have them agree it was a great idea, but baulked at the committment. Finally the village of Wallabadah came to his aid, supplying the land on the banks of Quirindi Creek which had previously been an unprofitable caravan park.

Ray hand carved the tablets with the names of the passengers, crew, convicts and civillians who came over on the eleven ships of the First Fleet. There are eleven circular gardens which represent the ships of the First Fleet. Each has a main tablet bearing the name and picture of the ship, surrounded by the many tablets full of the names of the people on board.

The Second Fleet Garden, consists of two gardens also with stone tablets arranged by ships.

There are large signs telling the stories, and adding interesting facts such as extracts from logs, lists of the livestock brought on board, and descriptions of the early arrival in Australia.

To anyone who has ancestors from this era, this is a wonderful tribute to their fortitude and resilience. Ray Collins has produced a masterpiece. A secluded, peaceful garden where the history of the arrival of Australia's European settlers and their stories can be absorbed and appreciated.

They supplied a list of the names of people mentioned, so if you have an ancestor who may be included, you might like to post or PM their name and I will check through the list for you.

On our next visit to Tamworth toward the end of the year, we could photograph the tablet for you.

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