quiz question

[chilliman]

1837 - What were first shipped to Australia?

My best is German winemakers!

[shaneystar2]

This was asked some time ago and after much discussion I think the general concensus was Sheep.

[chilliman]

Thanks for that, but I've seen a reference in Wikipedia that says the Australian Merino sheep population in 1830 was 2 million.
Regards

[Gill1941]

I would have thought convicts

[poorclare]

I agree with Gill1941. Convicts. The sheep came later
to breed and eat. The convicts done the breeding the
fat cats done the eating. Glad I wasn't either.

[shaneystar2]

Convicts were there much earlier
In 1788, the eleven ships of the First Fleet landed their 'cargo' of around 780 British convicts at Botany Bay in New South Wales. Two more convict fleets arrived in 1790 and 1791, and the first free settlers arrived in 1793.

[ddon]

In March 1837 the first ship sailed with a full complement of emigrants from Scotland under the government-organized bounty system, as distinct from the shipping out of bounty emigrants by private individuals under licence. This was the John Barry, which sailed from Dundee with 323 emigrants selected by Dr. Boyter, mostly from the Lowlands, and including in their number many craftsmen, especially masons and joiners, and several engineers, farmers, and shepherds

[burnham]

There were free settlers long before 1837. My 2x g.grandfather arrived 1794 as a boy of 13/14 with his uncle and aunt. His father arrived the following year.

I would bet on convicts as the correct answer, but cattle were purchased from India in the 1790s

[chilliman]

I have a feeling that the answer is going to be something daft, like Mars Bars or Crisps. Seems like "the" definitive answer cannot be found, unless I go for Scottish settlers or German Winemakers.
Thanks all for your help.

Chilliman