Exodus to the Southern Seas

Changes in Britain post the 1776 War of Independence, along with Capt James Cook’s mapping of New Zealand (1769) and New South Wales (1770), led to convicts and marines being sent to Botany Bay in 1787. So began British migration to the Southern Seas, over time, this expanded to include North American and other European peoples following to make these southern lands their new home.

Factors driving various waves of migration (economic, political, family ties, adventure) will be discussed, along with the effects experienced by the Aboriginal and Māori Communities and their environment. Tips on tracing those missing down-under branches of your tree will also be covered.