The next room is dedicated to the establishment of the British colony, and the foundation of Sydney from 1788. The imposition of British law and governance on Aboriginal lands has long been a source of contention. Nevertheless, Aboriginal people have continued to be present in Sydney; often ignored, neglected and hidden from view; but some in those early days played significant parts in the success of Australia, and the resilience of the Aboriginal peoples.

The imposing canon stands testament to the vulnerability of the fledgling colony. A detachment of English Marines was sent with the First Fleet under the Command of Major Robert Ross.

Their camp was situated on the southern boundary of The Rocks at what is now Grosvenor Street and in 1816 the Wynyard Barracks was built just up the road – Wynard Square is all that remains of the former military parade ground.

Lieutenant William Dawes, the colony’s Artillery Officer, Engineer and Astronomer, lived in the observatory he set up at Dawes Point (which is also known as Ta-Ra, the first dual named site in Sydney having both its traditional Gadigal name and British name) which is also where he and Ross established Sydney’s first permanent fortification.

Dawes befriended the Aboriginal woman Patyegarang, teaching her English while he learnt the language and customs of the Sydney Gadigal people. The Marines departed in 1791, replaced by the first regiment established for the colony – the New South Wales Corps.

In 1808, under Colonel George Johnston and wealthy landowner John Macarthur, the NSW Corps overthrew NSW Governor William Bligh when they came to blows over trade and land control. The NSW Corps was recalled to Britain in 1809 when Governor Lachlan Macquarie arrived to re-establish the colony.

During the next 60 years, British regiments saw regular service in Australia. In the 1850s and 60s, The Rocks assumed the appearance of a Garrison town when the Royal Artillery, with 200 soldiers and their families, were stationed at Dawes Point.