The first british colony in australia was established at botany bay as a a. trading post b. settlement for sheep and cattle ranching c. penal colony d. gold mining settlement

The correct answer is C. The first British colony in Australia was established at Botany Bay as a penal colony.

Explanation:

The bay was the scene of the first landing of Europeans in Australia, which occurred in 1770, when Captain James Cook arrived there; This gave it the name of "Botany" for its great variety of plants.

Botany was chosen in 1787 as the site for a penal colony, however the bay was discarded upon the arrival of the settlers to the place, the settlement being made in Port Jackson.

C. penal colony

Explanation:

Australia was first claimed as an English possession in 1770 by James Cook, who claimed the east coast of Australia for Great Britain. Britain decided to use the site as a penal colony, and the first fleet of convicts arrived to Botany Bay on January 20, 1788. They founded Sydney, New South Wales, which became the first European settlement in Australia. Between 1788 and 1868, about 168,000 convicts were transported from Britain to penal colonies in Australia.