Talk:Botany Bay

20th century penal colony?
If I recall correctly, it was only ever stated that it was a penal colony once (real history indicates in the late 18th century); and that's why the 20th century ship was named after the place. Even though Kirk theorized that this name implied it was a prisoner transport, that doesn't imply it was launched from a 20th century botany bay prison colony. If I remember correctly the augment arc from Ent, though mentioning the BB, adds nothing substantial to this argument, but I'm not 100% sure, so that's why I haven't removed the reference yet. Anyone knows more? Capricorn 23:13, 25 July 2007 (UTC)
 * I've researched the issue further, and surprisingly the quote from talks about Botany bay in the present tense. For further reference, this is the quote:
 * Malik: I'm not certain. But I know that running away isn't the answer. Are you familiar with the name Botany Bay?
 * Persis: It's a penal colony on the shores of Australia.
 * Personaly I think this is oversight by the writers, but canonicly it means that Botany Bay is in fact a penal colony in the 22th century. I've added this to the article and added a note about it. As far as I am concerned this closes the issue. Capricorn 18:53, 17 August 2007 (UTC)

18th century penal colony?
All of this discussion ignores the fact that this line of dialogue from Space Seed is in fact a blooper.

Botany Bay was visited in 1770 by James Cook and was misrepresented to the British in the following years as being a fine site for a colony. In 1788 when the First Fleet arrived with shiploads of convicts, they figured out immediately that Botany Bay was unsuited to colonization and they immediately proceeded north to find a more suitable site to settle. The penal colony was built on the next major inlet to the north (Port Jackson), about 10 miles north of Botany Bay. Port Jackson later became known as Sydney Harbour. Botany Bay remains an obscure inlet.

Having said this, Long Bay Gaol is only a mile or so north-east of Botany Bay. It has served as a prison throughout most of Sydney's history.


 * If it was said to be a penal colony in canon, then that's what we say it is here, irrespective of reality- since the Trek universe is not necessarily the same as ours. We may need to reword the bg note here currently, though. 31dot 12:55, April 1, 2012 (UTC)