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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.
How were the Australian convicts treated?
Free settlers were moving to Australia, and convicts were increasingly employed to work for them. By the mid-1830s, most convicts were assigned to private employment. The easiest way for a convict to reduce their sentence was to work hard and stay out of trouble. They could then be given a ticket-of-leave or pardon.
What was life like for convicts when they arrived in Australia?
Convicts lived in their own homes in an area known as ‘The Rocks’, some with their families. But it wasn’t just convicts living in the village; local Aboriginal people lived there too. They camped near the convict houses, fished on the harbour, traded goods and food with townsfolk and brought news from further away.
Who was the most famous convict on the First Fleet?
John Hudson, described as ‘sometimes a chimney sweeper’, was the youngest known convict to sail with the First Fleet. Voyaging on board the Friendship to NSW, the boy thief was 13 years old on arrival at Sydney Cove.
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 did convicts do to become a convict?
10 common crimes committed by convicts
- Petty theft. By far the most common crime that led to transportation was petty theft or larceny.
- Burglary or housebreaking.
- Highway robbery.
- Stealing clothing.
- Stealing animals.
- Military offences.
- Prostitution.
- Crimes of deception.
What was a day in the life of a convict like?
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.
How many convicts remained at Port Macquarie in 1829?
Governor Darling informed England that only 530 convicts remained at Port Macquarie, and that that number would decrease further by the expiry of the sentences of convicts who remained at Port Macquarie. Darling estimated that by 1829 there would only be 290 convicts remaining (10).
Where was the penal station at Macquarie Harbour?
Thomas Bock, ‘The Settlement at Macquarie Harbour, 1830 (Tasmaniana Library, SLT) Macquarie Harbour Penal Station, situated on the west coast of Van Diemen’s Land, operated between 1822 and 1833. It was one of a number of sites of secondary punishment established following the publication of the influential Bigge Report.
What was life like in Macquarie Harbour prison?
Malnutrition, dysentery, and scurvy were often rampant among the convict population. Living conditions were particularly bad in the early years of the prison. The communal barracks were so crowded that convicts were not able to sleep on their backs.
How many people served time at Macquarie Harbour?
In total just over 1150 prisoners served time at Macquarie Harbour, of whom fewer than 30 were women. The main settlement was located on Sarah Island, but there were many outlying stations and the penal station as a whole covered a vast area.