The Scientific Community were inspired to participate with Halley to record the Transit of Venus in 1769. There were many locations around the globe, Tahiti being the one fixed on by the British Government to act as a reason for Cook's journey of discovery. Ultimately the results were flawed due to atmospheric conditions caused by volcanic eruptions in Tahiti.
In 1779, Sir Joseph Banks ... recommended a Thief Colony as a solution to the problem of what to do with the people sentenced to transportation from the British Isles. Clark, M. A short history of Australia p 16.