Cheats and robbers will remain so forever...

After the loss of the United States, Britain needed a new penal colony for the relocation of convicts in its overcrowded prisons. (The prisons were full mainly due to the unemployment created by the Industrial Revolution). In 1787 the First Fleet of 11 ships and about 1350 people under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip set sail for Australia. On 26 January 1788—(a date now celebrated as Australia Day, but regarded as "Invasion Day" by some Aboriginal people and supporters)—a landing was made at Sydney Cove. The new colony was formally proclaimed as the Colony of New South Wales on 7 February. Thus European settlement began with a troupe of petty criminals, second-rate soldiers, and a crew of sailors.

Via Wikipedia