Bath has a very special link with modern day Australia. The continent’s first Governor – and the man who commanded the famous ‘First Fleet’ – retired to the city at the end of his amazing naval and colonial career.
Admiral Arthur Phillip was a British military officer who was a linguist, patriot, espionage agent and world-class seaman who served in the Royal Navy in the West Indies, South America and the Mediterranean. Known for his excellent navigational skills, he was given a Royal Commission in 1786 to found and govern a new penal colony under enlightened principles.
In May 1787, under Admiral Arthur Phillip’s command, a flotilla of eleven ships, known as the First Fleet, departed Britain and set off for New South Wales.
After a long and perilous journey, the Fleet arrived, set up camp and raised the British flag at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788, which later became Australia’s national day.
Admiral Arthur Phillip became the first Governor, introduced the rule of law and overcame immense logistical and societal challenges in health, farming and production to successfully establish the colony which became the first permanent European settlement in Australia.
He returned to England where he continued a distinguished Naval career and retired to Bath, where he lived in Bennet St. until his death. He is buried at St Nicholas, Bathampton in the Australian Chapel, where the Church and The Britain Australia Society, West Country Branch hold an annual commemoration service every October.
The Admiral’s achievements, and presence in Bath, were marked with the establishment of a special garden beside the Assembly Rooms – just across the road from where he lived. It contained a Memorial Sphere which has now been relocated to Sydney Gardens.
The Britain Australia Society, West Country Branch and BASET (The Britain-Australia Society Education Trust) are holding a special event on Thursday, 11 July 2024 to celebrate its relocation.
The memorial will be officially unveiled at 11 am by The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mr Mohammed Saddiq and Chairman of BASET (The Britain Australia Society Education Trust), John May. The Deputy Mayor of Bath, Councillor Ruth Malloy, will also be in attendance, along with representatives from the National Trust, Bath Heritage Service and the Friends of the Sydney Gardens and members of the public.
Immediately after the unveiling BASET is holding a lunch at The Ponte Vecchio Restaurant. To reserve tickets for the lunch, please click here by Wednesday 10th June.
Admiral Phillip has been widely commemorated in Australia, with memorials, statues, streets, parks and schools named in his honour.
Despite this, for nearly 200 years he remained relatively unknown in Britain.
He attained the rank of Admiral for his naval service but was otherwise unrecognised during his lifetime, and after his death only a few minor plaques and local memorials were created to mark his contribution to the history of Britain and Australia.
In 2014 BASET, led by the charity’s Chairman, Sir Christopher Benson, agreed his national profile should be raised and launched a special campaign to celebrate his life and achievements on the 200th Anniversary of his death.
A series of memorials were commissioned and installed, one of which was The Admiral Arthur Phillip Armillary Sphere Memorial in Bath.
Will miss seeing it most days!!
So what will replace it by the Assembly Rooms? Is this to do with the repurposing of what used to be the Fashion Museum by the National Trust?