Upon arrival in Australia, the early settlers were confronted by a landscape and range of plants and animals that were largely foreign to them. In many places even fresh water was scarce, especially in comparison to the rain-soaked fields of Britain and Ireland.

There were some familiar animals - wild swans, ducks, geese and pigeons that were similar to their European cousins. The oceans and rivers were full of fish and eels that were not too dissimilar from the European varieties. But other game was foreign and challenging to their British tastes.

Some settlers were driven by curiosity or necessity to hunt and eat the native mammals. Stuffed wombat and fried echidna were on the menu in early settlements in Tasmania, then known as Van Diemen's Land.

But largely, the early settlers set their hands to producing European crops and raising European herd animals for food. Over the years, they introduced European game animals such as deer and rabbits for hunting. Many of these animals thrived in their new home and have since become pests to Australian farmers and environmentalists.

Flour was a staple item of the early settler's diet. It was usually made into bread or damper (a dense, thick bread).

The available meat was usually beef, pork or mutton (the meat of adult sheep). As there was no refrigeration, it was usually salted or dried to preserve it.

Tea was the staple drink and considered a necessity, even when other items were scarce.

Salt was highly prized for flavour and for preserving meat.

The settlers brought rum with them and the fledgling colonies soon developed the capacity to produce it themselves. Rum was such a valued commodity that it became the key currency in the early years of settlement.

Information provided by the Australian Government's Culture Portal.