Governor Phillip led a small party searching the coves to catch the perpetrators of the Rushcutters Bay incident. A member of the party was John White who was surgeon to the First Fleet, he was surprised when the party came upon a large group of Eora people.

John White recorded:

“not to be less than 300 of them in this bay, all armed, the soldiers were ordered to fix their bayonets.... This was the greatest number of natives we had ever seen since our coming among them.”

As the invaders continued to encroach upon Cadigal and Wangal territory and deplete the food supplies, relations reached breaking point. Cadigal and Wangal members experienced a food shortage that would bring them to the brink of starvation. The competition for food saw a group of Aboriginals attack a fishing crew from the Sirius and make off with some of the catch.

Cadigal and Wangal territory was further infringed when Governor Phillip decided to establish a farming settlement at Parramatta (initially called Rosehill). The British marines accompanied the labouring convicts and farmers to ensure their safety. Again, local clans were forced to compete further for food supplies which were already being depleted as the British stores became low and they too had to rely on local food sources.