Governor Phillip's Route to Australia: No Tasmania Shortcut

There is no historical evidence that Governor Arthur Phillip considered sailing between Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) and the Australian mainland en route to Botany Bay. The standard 1788 route followed the "clipper route" south of Tasmania.

Actual First Fleet Route (1787–88)

1. Portsmouth → Tenerife → Rio de Janeiro → Cape Town (standard Brouwer route)
2. Cape Town → **South of Van Diemen's Land** → Bass Strait (uncharted, risky) → Botany Bay
3. Arrived Botany Bay 18 Jan 1788; relocated to Port Jackson 26 Jan

Why Not Between Tasmania and Mainland?

• Bass Strait unknown: Not proven navigable until 1798 (Bass & Flinders). Charts showed continuous land.
• Admiralty orders: Prohibited uncharted passages with convict fleet
• Prevailing winds: Roaring Forties favored southern route
• Risk calculus: 11 ships, 1,400 people, no resupply — caution paramount

Later Development

After Bass/Flinders proved Bass Strait (1798–99), the northern passage became standard—saving 1,300 km and 2 weeks. But in 1788, Phillip correctly followed known, safer waters.