Lyla Lindsey
Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia. The British government had been sending convicts overseas to American colonies in the early 18th century, but this came to an end with the start of the American Revolution. Prisons became overcrowded, and prisoners were kept in old, rotting prison ships. The British government investigated alternative destinations for convicts, and in 1785, it was decided that Australia would be the site of a new penal colony. The First Fleet of 11 convict ships set sail for Botany Bay in 1787, marking the beginning of Australia's modern founding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | Between 1788 and 1868 |
| Number of convicts transported | About 162,000 |
| Number of women convicts | 24,000 (one in seven) |
| Crimes committed | Theft, assault, robbery, fraud, political crimes |
| Purpose of transportation | Solve prison overcrowding, provide labour for public infrastructure, establish a settlement |
| Shipping conditions | Appalling, cramped, unhygienic, insufficient supplies |
| Mortality rate during transportation | High, nearly 2000 convicts died |
| Work hours | Sunrise to sunset, Monday to Saturday |
| Redemption opportunity | Yes, through "honest sweat" |
| Post-sentence life | Majority stayed in Australia, some rose to prominent positions |
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What You'll Learn
To relieve overcrowding in British prisons
Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia. The British government had been sending convicts overseas to American colonies in the early 18th century. However, when the American Revolution put an end to transportation across the Atlantic, British authorities sought an alternative destination to relieve prison overcrowding.
The problem of overcrowding had escalated quickly. Prisons began filling up, and the old prison ships, known as hulks, were unable to accommodate the overflow. Conditions on these ships were terrible, with convicts suffering from diseases such as cholera and typhoid due to overcrowding, poor hygiene, and malnutrition.
In 1770, James Cook charted and claimed possession of the east coast of Australia for Britain. Fearing French expansion into the region, Britain chose Australia as the site of a new penal colony. In 1787, the First Fleet of eleven convict ships set sail for Botany Bay, arriving on 20 January 1788 to found Sydney, New South Wales, the first European settlement on the continent.
The convicts transported to Australia had committed a range of crimes, including theft, assault, robbery, and fraud. Most of these crimes were considered low-grade, and approximately 80% were related to theft. The prisoners were sentenced to penal transportation for seven years, fourteen years, or life. During the transportation period, nearly 2,000 convicts died, mainly due to the cramped and unhygienic conditions on board the ships.
The colonial administration viewed the convicts' labour as an opportunity for redemption, and most convicts stayed on in Australia after serving their sentences. Once emancipated, some rose to prominent positions in Australian society.
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To provide labour for public infrastructure
The British penal system transported about 162,000 convicts from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia between 1788 and 1868. Penal transportation to Australia peaked in the 1830s, with 7,000 prisoners arriving in Australia in 1833. The majority of convicts were transported for petty crimes, particularly theft.
The transportation of prisoners to Australia was a result of the American War of Independence, which ended British rule in North America. As a result, the Americans refused further convict transportation, creating a crisis in Britain. Prisons were already overcrowded, and prisoners were kept in old, rotting prison ships called hulks. Australia was chosen as the new site for a penal colony, and in 1787, the First Fleet of eleven convict ships set sail for Botany Bay, arriving on 20 January 1788 to found Sydney, New South Wales, the first European settlement on the continent.
The prisoners transported to Australia were essentially shipped as labourers to build the colony. They were put to work creating infrastructure for the convict system, including the construction of the Convict Establishment in Fremantle. Convicts also crewed the pilot boat, rebuilt York Street and Stirling Terrace, and turned the track from Albany to Perth into a good road. In addition, convicts were assigned to hard labour and government work in chain gangs.
In 1848, Charles Fitzgerald, Governor of Western Australia, petitioned Britain to send convicts to his state because of labour shortages. Britain agreed to send first offenders in the final years of their terms. Most convicts in Western Australia spent very little time in prison and were hired to work by free settlers.
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To prevent French expansion into the region
The British government had been sending convicts overseas to American colonies in the early 18th century. However, this came to an end with the start of the American Revolution, which saw the end of British rule in North America. As a result, the British needed to find a new destination for convicts to relieve the overcrowding of prisons and hulks (decommissioned Royal Navy vessels docked in rivers and ports).
In 1770, James Cook claimed possession of the east coast of Australia for Britain. Seeking to prevent French colonial expansion into the region, Britain chose Australia as the site of a penal colony. In 1787, the First Fleet of 11 convict ships set sail for Botany Bay, arriving on 20 January 1788 to found Sydney, New South Wales, the first European settlement on the continent.
The convicts transported to Australia had committed a range of crimes, including theft, assault, robbery, and fraud. Most of these crimes were petty, and thieves comprised 80% of all transportees. More serious crimes, such as rape and murder, became transportable offences in the 1830s, but as they were also punishable by death, few convicts were transported for such crimes. The prisoners were sentenced to penal transportation for seven years, fourteen years, or life, despite the crimes generally being low-grade.
The prisoners were transported in appalling conditions, with many not surviving the journey. During the period of transportation, nearly 2000 convicts died, mainly from illnesses such as cholera due to cramped and unhygienic conditions. The high mortality rate was exacerbated by a lack of sufficient supplies, leading to widespread hunger and starvation.
The plan was to use convict labour to build the colony and create large areas of agricultural production. However, prisoners did not make for motivated labourers, and many projects suffered delays and failures due to shoddy workmanship and other issues with the workforce. Despite this, the majority of convicts stayed on in Australia after serving their sentences, and some even rose to prominent positions in Australian society.
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To offer convicts a chance at redemption
The British penal system transported about 162,000 convicts from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia between 1788 and 1868. The majority of these convicts had committed petty crimes, such as theft, and were sentenced to seven, fourteen years, or life in transportation.
The decision to transport convicts to Australia was largely driven by the need to relieve overcrowding in British prisons and hulks (decommissioned naval vessels docked in rivers and ports that served as floating prisons). The American Revolutionary War had ended Britain's ability to transport convicts to American colonies, and there were fears that France would lay claim to the western third of Australia, known as New Holland.
The colonial administration viewed the transportation of convicts as an opportunity for redemption through hard work. Governor Phillip believed that "honest sweat" was the convict's best chance of improvement. Convicts worked from sunrise to sunset, six days a week, on creating infrastructure for the colony, including roads, buildings, and agricultural production.
Once their sentences were served, most convicts remained in Australia and joined the free settlers. Some even rose to prominent positions in Australian society. Governor Lachlan Macquarie, for instance, appointed former convicts to key positions in the colonial government during his tenure from 1810 to 1821.
Despite the opportunity for redemption and a fresh start, the journey to Australia and the living conditions upon arrival were harsh and deadly. Many convicts were transported on ships in appalling conditions, with limited space, insufficient supplies, and poor sanitation. Diseases such as cholera and typhoid were rampant, and the high mortality rate among convicts during the transportation journey was exacerbated by widespread hunger and starvation.
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To establish a settlement at King George Sound
The British Government transported convicts to Australia to establish a settlement at King George Sound for several reasons. Firstly, the western third of Australia was unclaimed land known as New Holland, and there were fears that France would lay claim to it. James Cook had charted and claimed possession of the east coast of Australia for Britain in 1770, and the British wanted to prevent the French colonial empire from expanding into the region.
On 11 March 1826, Earl Bathurst instructed Governor Darling to establish a settlement at King George's Sound if it was found to be suitable. Governor Darling was reluctant but complied with the order and placed Major Edmund Lockyer in command of the expedition. Lockyer's party, which included troops and 23 convicts, arrived at King George Sound on Christmas Day, 1826. The settlement was named Fredrick Town after George III's second son, but this name was never widely accepted, and the settlement was usually referred to as King George's Sound.
The settlement was established as a military outpost and was maintained for over four years. However, the settlers of the nearby Swan River Colony objected to the presence of convicts, and in 1831, control of the settlement was transferred to the Swan River Colony, and the troops and convicts were withdrawn. King George's Sound continued as a penal settlement for several more years, and it served as a favoured location for the delivery of mail and supplies to Western Australia until the early 1890s.
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Frequently asked questions
The British penal system transported convicts to Australia as the prisons in Britain were overcrowded. The transportation was also used as a punishment for those who had committed crimes.
Most prisoners were transported for petty crimes, particularly theft. More serious crimes, such as rape and murder, also became transportable offences in the 1830s, but comparatively few convicts were transported for such crimes.
The prisoners were transported on ships in appalling conditions, with many not surviving the journey. Convicts were subjected to cramped and unhygienic conditions, with inmates not even able to stand up. There was also a lack of sufficient supplies, leading to widespread hunger and starvation.
The prisoners were essentially shipped as labourers to build the colony. They were forced to work hard labour from sunrise to sunset, six days a week. Many convicts were stationed in remote areas to work on creating infrastructure for the convict system.
