Lyla Lindsey
Australia's history of convict transportation began in the 1780s, when Britain, facing prison overcrowding and criticism of the death penalty, sought an alternative to sending convicts to North America. The First Fleet, comprising 11 ships carrying around 1,000 convicts, set sail from Portsmouth in 1787 and arrived at Botany Bay in 1788, establishing the first European settlement and penal colony in Australia. Between 1788 and 1852, about 24,000 convicts were transported to Australia, with an estimated 20% of the current Australian population descended from them. The convicts endured harsh conditions, including hard labour, inadequate nutrition, and cramped and unhygienic living quarters. After serving their sentences, convicts could receive a Certificate of Freedom, allowing them to settle in Australia or return home. Today, Australia's immigration history remains a vital aspect of its national identity.
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What You'll Learn
To establish a penal colony
The British government established Australia as a penal colony in 1788 to relieve overcrowding in British prisons and hulks. The penal colony was also established to assert a strategic British presence in the Pacific amid growing French colonial interests in the region.
The British government had initially transported convicts overseas to American colonies in the early 18th century. However, when the American Revolution broke out, the British government could no longer send convicts to the west, so they looked to the east and specifically to Australia. In 1770, James Cook had charted and claimed possession of the east coast of Australia for Britain. Seeking to pre-empt the French colonial empire from expanding into the region, Britain chose Australia as the site of a penal colony.
The First Fleet of 11 convict ships set sail from Portsmouth, England, on May 13, 1787, arriving on January 18, 1788, at Botany Bay, which was deemed unsuitable for a penal colony. A few days later, on January 26, the fleet arrived in Sydney Cove, now known as Sydney Harbour. The penal colony was under the charge of Arthur Phillip, who later became the first governor of New South Wales.
The convicts faced harsh conditions and years of labour as they were given the task of setting up the colony while being overseen by cruel and unforgiving captors. The colony also marked a time of dramatic impacts on the Indigenous peoples due to the dispossession of their land and resources. Over the next 80 years, more than 160,000 convicts were transported to Australia from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, instead of being given the death penalty. Penal transportation to Australia peaked in the 1830s and dropped off significantly in the following decade as protests against the convict system intensified throughout the colonies.
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Labour shortages in Australia
The British began sending convicts to Australia in the late 18th century. At the time, prisons in Britain were becoming overcrowded, and the loss of the American colonies meant that Britain could no longer send convicts there. As a result, it was decided that Australia would become the site of the next penal colony.
The First Fleet, which consisted of 11 ships carrying around 1,000 convicts, set sail from Portsmouth in May 1787 and arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788. The colony was established with the goal of creating large areas of agricultural production. However, skill shortages and a lack of livestock hindered early attempts at settlement. Convicts who were able to work faced harsh conditions, working at least ten hours a day in sweltering heat with little food.
Over time, the convict population in Australia grew, with an estimated one in seven being women and approximately 3,600 being political prisoners. Many convicts suffered great hardship and were subjected to excessive punishment. Despite this, some convicts were able to eventually join their fellow Australians as free settlers. It is estimated that today, about 20% of the Australian population is descended from convicts transported to Australia.
Labour shortages continued to be an issue in Australia well into the 19th century. In 1848, Charles Fitzgerald, the Governor of Western Australia, petitioned Britain to send convicts to his state to help address labour shortages. While Britain rejected the request for fixed-term convicts, they offered to send first offenders in the final years of their terms.
In modern times, Australia continues to face labour shortages, with 90% of businesses expecting to be affected by staffing shortages in 2023. However, the current shortages are not limited to any specific sector or skill level but rather affect a wide range of industries and skill sets. To address these shortages, businesses have increased their investment in staff training and are more willing to hire skilled migrants.
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Overcrowded prisons in Britain
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, Britain regularly transported convicts overseas, initially to British colonies in North America. This policy came to an end with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War and the conclusion of British rule in North America. With prisons in Britain becoming overcrowded, an alternative location for transported convicts was needed.
During this period, Britain's cities were overcrowded, and many people were poor and unemployed. Minor crimes, such as stealing items worth over a shilling, were punishable by transportation. Prisons were quickly filled to capacity, and prisoners were kept in old, rotting prison ships, known as hulks. These hulks were often old naval or merchant ships that could no longer sail but could still float safely in harbour.
The decision was made to send convicts to Botany Bay, Australia, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, who was appointed Governor of the new colony. The First Fleet, as it became known, was formed of 11 ships that left from Portsmouth, carrying around 1,000 convicts, as well as seamen, officers, and free people. The fleet arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788, but the site was deemed unsuitable for a colony, and the settlement was moved to Port Jackson.
Between 1788 and 1868, about 33,600 convicts were transported to Australia, including men, women, minority groups, and political prisoners. Many convicts were assigned a trade in their penal colony and worked unpaid until their sentence was served. A Ticket of Leave system offered early release for well-behaved convicts, and convicts could work for themselves in designated areas under the condition that they reported to the local police regularly. After serving their sentences, convicts were issued a Certificate of Freedom and were free to settle in Australia or return to Britain.
The transportation of convicts to Australia contributed to thousands of people suffering great hardship as punishment for minor crimes committed in Britain. Convicts endured arduous journeys in cramped and unhygienic conditions, with insufficient supplies leading to widespread hunger and starvation. Many convicts also faced social stigma and the lasting effects of their criminal label even after their sentences were served.
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To reduce the death penalty
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, transportation was a common sentence for people convicted of crimes for which the death penalty was deemed too severe a punishment. Britain's prisons were becoming overcrowded, and there was growing domestic criticism of the widespread use of the death penalty. As a result, the British government sought alternative locations to send people convicted of less severe crimes.
In 1782, English convicts were transported to America. However, with the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War and the end of the American War of Independence in 1783, America refused to accept any more convicts, and Britain had to find a new location for its penal colonies. On 6th December 1785, it was decided that Australia would be the most suitable destination.
The First Fleet, formed of 11 ships, left Portsmouth, England, on 13th May 1787, carrying around 1,000 convicts, as well as seamen, officers, and free people. The journey was arduous, and many convicts died during the voyage due to illnesses, cramped conditions, and a lack of sufficient supplies.
Upon arrival in Australia, convicts were assigned a trade in their penal colony and worked unpaid until their sentence was served. A Ticket of Leave system offered early release for well-behaved convicts, and conditional and absolute pardons were sometimes granted. Once they had completed their penal servitude, convicts were issued with a Certificate of Freedom and were free to settle in Australia or return home.
The transportation of convicts to Australia contributed to thousands of people suffering great hardship as punishment for minor crimes committed in the UK. Many convicts experienced harsh working conditions, with sentences of hard labour, and lived with the social stigma of being a criminal even after their release.
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To create large areas of agricultural production
The decision to send people to Australia was influenced by various factors, including the need to establish colonies and address labour shortages, as well as the desire to relieve prison overcrowding in Britain. One of the key objectives of sending people to Australia was to create large areas of agricultural production.
The transportation of convicts to Australia was intended to contribute to the development of agricultural industries and food production in the new colonies. The plan was for convicts to cultivate the land and establish sustainable agricultural practices to support the growing population and economy. This aim was driven by the recognition that Australia had vast areas of arable land suitable for agriculture.
However, the initial attempts at creating large-scale agricultural production faced several challenges. Skill shortages, lack of livestock, and inadequate supplies hindered progress. The health and nutritional status of convicts, who were subjected to long journeys in cramped and unhygienic conditions, further exacerbated the situation. Many convicts arrived in poor health, unable to contribute significantly to the labour force.
Despite these setbacks, the establishment of agricultural production in Australia remained a priority. The colonies relied on agricultural output to sustain themselves and generate economic growth. Over time, as the colonies stabilised and the convict system evolved, it is likely that agricultural production improved, contributing to the development of thriving colonies and, eventually, independent states.
The impact of this historical migration can still be felt today, with an estimated one-fifth of the Australian population descended from those transported as convicts from the UK. This mass movement of people played a significant role in shaping Australia's history and national identity, including the development of its agricultural sector.
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Frequently asked questions
Britain's prisons were becoming overcrowded, and there was growing criticism of the widespread use of the death penalty. As such, Britain needed to find an alternative location to send people convicted of less-severe crimes.
The convicts were transported on ships in poor conditions, with many not surviving the journey. During the period of transportation, nearly 2000 convicts died, often from illnesses such as cholera due to the cramped and unhygienic conditions.
Most convicts were assigned a trade in their penal colony and worked for up to ten hours a day. Their work was unpaid until their sentence was served. A Ticket of Leave system offered early release for well-behaved convicts. After serving some of their sentence, they could work for themselves in designated areas, but they had to regularly report to the local police.
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