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According to statistical analysis 81% of male convicts transported to Australia were found guilty of offence against property, including theft, robbery, burglary, house breaking, receiving stolen goods and wilful destruction of property. Among those transported for wilful destruction were English workers convicted of smashing machines. Among the most commonly stolen items were money, household utensils, lead, clothing, and domestic or farm animals. Around 4% were convicted of offences of a public nature, including counterfeiting, rioting, treason, or belonging to a trade union. Only 3% were convicted of offences against the person, including rape, kidnap, manslaughter or murder.
Source 1: An artists interpretation of a British slum
The prisoners were transported on ships in appalling conditions; many of them would not survive the journey. During the period of transportation, nearly 2000 convicts died during the journey, usually from illnesses such as cholera due to the cramped and unhygienic conditions, where space was so limited that inmates were not even able to stand up. The high mortality rate was made worse by a lack of sufficient supplies, leading to widespread hunger and starvation.
The plan was to settle in Australia and begin creating large areas of agricultural production. In theory this was a perfectly good aim, but skill shortages combined with a lack of livestock hindered first attempts.
The First Fleet arrives in Botany Bay, 21 January 1788, by William Bradley (1802).
Thomas Watling's View of Sydney Cove, circa 1794-1796
The arrival of the Second Fleet did not improve the situation. Convicts arrived in poor health, unable to work and in 1790 only added more pressure to the new colony at Port Jackson. Those that could work were expected to get up as soon as dawn broke and work at least a ten hour day.
All convicts were to suffer the punishment of hard labour which consisted of any type of work that was deemed necessary for the settlement. This would include brick making and timber cutting, all of which would be carried out in sweltering conditions with little food to sustain them. The only reward promised was tobacco, awarded for a job well done.
Sketch by Thomas Lempriere showing the gardens on Phillips Island, Macquarie Harbour.
A convict ploughing team breaking up new ground at a farm in Port Arthur. Created circa 1838
The treatment of the transported convicts was poor and the use of excessive punishment was rife throughout the penal system. Lashings were commonplace and for those prisoners who did not behave accordingly, they were taken elsewhere to suffer a secondary punishment. This could involve being taken to areas such as Tasmania and Norfolk Island where additional punishment was carried out and long periods of solitary confinement enforced.
Flogging a convict at Moreton Bay, 1836 - Artist unknown
A treadmill operating in London 1822. In Australia, Convicts were naked from the waist up
The transportation penal system reached its peak in the 1830’s after which the numbers dwindled and the last convict ship to arrive in Western Australia was on 10th January 1868. Other settlements such as Victoria and South Australia were established and would remain free colonies. The penal system was coming to an end after much protest and a changing approach and attitude to crime and punishment.
Those that suffered the unfortunate fate of being taken as labourers were to be emancipated and would eventually join their fellow Australians as free settlers. That was not to say that their hardship had come to an end; for years to come they would have to carry the label of a criminal and the social stigma would have lasting effects on the individuals.
The transportation of people to penal colonies to Australia contributed to thousands of lives suffering great hardship as a punishment for minor crimes committed in the UK.
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