Two hundred and thirty years ago a small wooden flotilla sailed into Sydney Cove. This First Fleet of 1788 consisted of two warships and three store vessels which contained sheep, cattle and horses plus enough provisions for two years. Its most important cargo was contained in six transportation ships – 789 convicts from Britain accompanied by four companies of marines to watch over them. About 7% of the First Fleet convicts were Jewish. With the arrival of around 15 Jewish convicts on board, a rudimentary Jewish community was present from the beginning of European settlement. Many of the first Jews on the First Fleet were convicted of petty crimes but others were hardened criminals.

John Harris, a Jewish convict transported for stealing eight silver spoons, was one of the first Jews in Australia. In the winter of 1789 he proposed to Judge-Advocate David Collins to establish a night watch, ‘to be selected among the convicts for the purpose to stem the frequent commission of offences in the settlement’. This was agreed to. This first attempt at a police force in the settlement began on 8 August 1789, with Harris as one of its principal members. In 1790 he was transferred to Norfolk Island, where in 1793 he was put in charge of the police at Sydney Vale, Arthur Vale and Granville Valley.

A fortnight after the landing of the convicts, the first marriage between two Jews took place. John Hart was accused of stealing a package from a coach, bound for Stratford, in Whitechapel in London’s East End. He was given seven years and incarcerated in Newgate prison. His new wife, Flora “Sara” Larah, had similarly been placed in Newgate for stealing “a mahogany tea chest and a half guinea gold coin”.

Perhaps the most remarkable story of these first Jewish settlers is that of Esther Abrahams. Aged 15, she was charged with stealing “two cards of black silk lace, valued at 50 shillings” and incarcerated in Newgate prison in 1786. A few months later, she gave birth to a little girl, Rosanna, in prison. Transferred to the Lady Penryhn, bound for New South Wales, Rosanna became the first free Jew to walk on Australian soil. On board, Esther commenced a life long relationship with First Lieutenant George Johnston, with whom she had seven children. Johnston became the commanding officer of the New South Wales Corps, deposing Governor William Bligh. For six months, Johnson took over the reins as Lieutenant Governor— and Esther became “First Lady”.

Sarah Lyons spent her life overcoming hardship and adversity. An early life of crime enabled her to survive the brutal conditions of poverty in England during the 1770s. She used her ingenuity to survive on board the Lady Juliana, also known as the “Floating Brothel”. She then met William Tunks in the new colony of New South Wales. William had been a marine on board the First Fleet ship HMS Sirius. They had three children who survived to adulthood and another 3 who died as infants. Together they farmed land as pioneers on Norfolk Island, in Windsor and then Penrith.