Why did the British bring convicts to Australia?
Between 1788 and 1868 more than 162,000 convicts were transported to Australia. The convicts were transported as punishment for crimes committed in Britain and Ireland. In Australia their lives were hard as they helped build the young colony.
Why were convicts sent to serve their sentences in Australia?
Convicted criminals were transported to the colonies to serve their prison sentences. It had the advantages of removing the criminal from society and being quite cheap – the state only had to pay the cost of the journey. In 1787, transportation started to the first penal colonies in Australia.
What was the punishment for the convicts sent to Australia?
Throughout the convict era, ‘flogging’ (whipping) convicts with a cat-o’-nine-tails was a common punishment for convicts who broke the rules. In Australia today, flogging a prisoner with a whip or keeping them locked in a dark cell for a long period of time is not an acceptable form of punishment.
What crimes did convicts commit to get sent to Australia?
Those who were taken to Australia had committed a range of different crimes including theft, assault, robbery and fraud. As part of their punishment they were sentenced to penal transportation for seven years, fourteen years or even life, despite the crimes that they had committed being generally low-grade.
When did the last convict die?
The Western Australian records we’ve been using for our recent research and digitised for the Digital Panopticon project reveal the story of Samuel Speed, the last living Australian convict. He was transported to Western Australia in 1866 and died in 1938, just short of his 100th birthday.
How many died on the First Fleet?
48 deaths
How many babies were born on the first fleet?
Convict transport It is estimated there were about 50 children on the First Fleet when it arrived at Botany Bay. Over 20 children were born at sea during the eight-month voyage.
Who was the first baby born in Australia?
William Nash was baptised on 25 May 1788 (his actual birth date is not known), and died on 19 June 1789.
What did convicts eat on the ships?
Convicts Food Convicts ate bread,hardtack,salted beef or pork,peas,oatmeal,butter,cheese. They also ate rise,fruit,vegetables.
Where do convicts sleep?
Prisoners were housed below decks on the prison deck and were confined behind prison bars. They slept on hammocks and at times were allowed up on deck for exercise and fresh air.
How many lashes did convicts get?
Usually convicts would received 25 or 50 lashes. They even had terms, like 25 lashes was known as a ‘tickler’. That was the minimum punishment. But often, punishments would include 100, or 150; sometimes 300 lashes.
What did convicts do in their free time?
Convicts played cards or games like chess or draughts that required different sorts of tokens, many of which were handmade. These might have been carved from animal bones (perhaps saved from dinner) or pieces of ceramic and wood they found, or cast in lead.
What crimes did female convicts commit?
The crime of stealing clothes, along with jewellery, fabrics, and other household items, was particularly common among female convicts, especially those who worked as domestic servants or prostitutes.
How did convicts get their freedom?
Certificate of Freedom – given to convicts when they had served their sentence of seven or 14 years. This meant they were no longer a convict. Absolute Pardon – gave very well-behaved convicts complete freedom; they could stay in the colony or to return home.
What did convicts sleep?
Convicts slept in hammocks that were folded away each morning. Each ward had a large wooden tub that served as a communal toilet.
What did a convict do in a day?
Each convict was given daily rations but they were by no means substantial. Here’s a typical day of grub: Breakfast – a roll, a bowl of porridge like substance called “skilly” made from oats, water and if they were lucky they would get a few scraps of meat. Lunch – a large bread roll and a pound of dried, salted meat.