Peter Hibbs

Peter Kenney Hibbs
Borncirca 1757
Ramsgate, Kent, England
Died12 September 1847, aged 90
Pumpkin Point, New South Wales, Australia
Resting placeWisemans Ferry Cemetery, Laughtondale, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityEnglish
Known forFirst Fleet sailor
Spouse(s)Mary Pardoe (1768-1844),
Second Fleet convict
Children6 sons
1 daughter
1 step-daughter[1][2][3]
Hibbs Bay, Hibbs Lagoon, Hibbs River, Hibbs Pyramid & Point Hibbs in relation to Macquarie Harbour

Peter Kenney Hibbs (c. 1757 – 12 September 1847) was an English mariner and a member of the First Fleet to Australia in 1788.

An able seaman on HMS Sirius, Hibbs was also one of few non-convict First Fleet members known to have settled in the new Colony of New South Wales in 1788.[1][4]

Hibbs also claimed to have come earlier to Australia in 1770 as a crewman on board HMS Endeavour with Captain James Cook,[4][5][6][7] and to have stepped ashore at Botany Bay with Joseph Banks.[4][6][7] However no primary independent evidence exists to verify these claims.[1][4]

Remaining in Australia after 1788, Hibbs played a significant role in the exploration of Tasmania and the eastern seaboard of Australia.

  • In 1798-99, as master (captain) of the colonial built Norfolk,[4][8][9] and chosen by his previous master (captain) of HMS Sirius, John Hunter, who was now governor of New South Wales, Hibbs commanded the first vessel to circumnavigate Van Dieman’s Land (Tasmania). This voyage proved that Tasmania was an island and proved the existence of Bass Strait. The discovery of the Bass Straight shortened the travel distance from England to Sydney, as previously the ships had sailed to the south of Tasmania.[8][9]
  • In 1799, as master of the colonial built Norfolk,[4][8][9] and chosen by his previous master of HMS Sirius, John Hunter, who was now governor of New South Wales, Hibbs commanded the first vessel to sail north from Port Jackson (Sydney) to explore and chart Moreton Bay and Hervey Bay.[8][9]

In the 1798-99 voyage around Tasmania, Hibbs had been carrying Matthew Flinders and George Bass aboard the Norfolk, and in the 1799 voyage north Hibbs had been carrying Matthew Finders. Flinders named a cluster of features on the west coast of Tasmania after Hibbs.[8]

Hibbs also claimed to have taken part in an earlier expedition[4][7][10][11] in 1789 led by Governor Arthur Phillip which resulted in the discovery of the Hawkesbury River.[12][13][14] Again no primary independent evidence exists to verify this claim.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Gillen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jun 1820 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Hibbs' Memorial of 30 June 1830 states that he had a wife and 7 (surviving) children which would have included his step-daughter Ann. He therefore did not have a youngest son by the name of Samuel, a son for which no records exist.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "The Discovery and exploration of Australia". Colonial Exploration: First Fleeter Peter Hibbs - was he the Endeavour's cabin boy?. Australia for everyone, Stephen Yarrow and Christine J Hind. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference cemetery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Gazette 1890 - 1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Gazette 1890 - 2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e Matthew Flinders (1814). "A Voyage to Terra Australis". Vol 1. W. Bulmer and Co., London. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference gravestone was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Haydencowen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hawkesbury People was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference phillip was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference historical was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Favenc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).