To some extent, the unknown country of Australia was a "fatal shore", a land of suffering and hardship for the British. However, after its early years, the colony began to prosper and Australia was established as a land of opportunity. Events in Britain, such as the Industrial Revolution, encouraged people to consider migrating to Australia for a better life, as many members of the working class were deeply affected. Additionally, increased crime due to unemployment led to overcrowded prisons and no destination to transport convicts, especially after the American War of Independence in the 18th century. Thus the British embarked on a new colonization project, leading to long struggles for some and great opportunities for others. In its early years, the colony was in danger of starving; disease and malnutrition flourished, especially since the British colonists were unfamiliar with the colony's different environment. The British, particularly those who arrived in the First Fleet in 1788, were catastrophically unprepared and the chances of building a lasting colony seemed slim as crops failed due to tools, seeds and methods unsuitable for the environment Australian. Their unfamiliarity with the country led them to struggle to survive, and members of the struggling colony were subjected to strict food rationing. Arthur Bowes Smyth, who sailed with the First Fleet, recorded in his journal that “the wood itself is not suitable for any building purpose. or anything other than fire -- The ground at great depth is nothing but black sand...the surrounding trees are not fit for vegetation of anything, even the grass itself ...”, showing that upon their arrival, the British were faced with many problems. including for example lack of resources...... middle of paper......, the colony eventually began to flourish and prosper, proving that Australia was not just a ' Fatal Shore'.Works CitedAustralia.com, (2014). The History of Australia. [online] Available at: http://www.australia.com/about/culture-history/history.aspx [Accessed April 20, 2014].Sl.nsw.gov.au, (2014). Arthur Bowes Smyth | State Library of New South Wales. [online] Available at: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/history_nation/terra_australis/journals/bowes_smyth/index.html [Accessed April 15, 2014].Sl.nsw.gov.au, (2014). James Campbell | State Library of New South Wales. [online] Available at: http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/history_nation/terra_australis/letters/campbell_james/index.html [Accessed 15 April 2014].Sydney Living Museums, (2014). About Us. [online] Available at: http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/about-us [Accessed April 20. 2014].