South Australia and Victoria, established in 1836 and 1850 respectively, officially remained free colonies. However, a population that included thousands of convicts already resided in the area that became known as Victoria.
What was the last convict settlement in Victoria?
This was the last attempt to establish a convict settlement in what was to become Victoria, although in 1840 explorer James Riley noted that convicts who escaped from Van Diemen's Land were occupying the buildings of the Corinella settlement of 1826, although they were abandoned a year or two later.
Why is Victoria's convict heritage a secret history?
Although Victoria's first settlers may have thought of Port Phillip as a free colony, convicts worked for land-owners and later prison 'hulk' ships housed a growing criminal population. Read on to discover why Victoria's convict heritage is a secret history...
When did convicts come to Australia?
Convicts in Australia. Other penal colonies were later established in Van Diemen's Land ( Tasmania) in 1803 and Queensland in 1824, while Western Australia, founded in 1829 as a free colony, received convicts from 1850. Victoria and South Australia remained free colonies. Penal transportation to Australia peaked in the 1830s...
Who was the first person to settle in Victoria?
Charles Sturt leads an expedition along the Murray River, arousing interest in settlement of land to the south. 1834. Victoria's first permanent European settlement is established at Portland Bay by pioneer Edward Henty on 19 November.
Was Melbourne a convict colony?
NSW then stretched along the eastern coast of Australia encompassing territories that would later become the modern-day states of Queensland and Victoria, and smaller convict establishments were developed at Moreton Bay (now Brisbane), and at Port Phillip (now Melbourne) effectively from 1835.
Which Australian states hosted convict settlements?
In addition to the original settlement in Sydney, other well-known convict settlements were set up at Moreton Bay (now Brisbane), on Norfolk Island, and at Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). The Swan River Colony in western Australia began as a free settlement but later accepted convicts.
When was Victoria established as a settlement?
1834: Victoria's first permanent European settlement was established at Portland Bay by pioneer Edward Henty. 1835: Farmer and businessman John Batman declared a point upstream from the Yarra River's mouth would be the site for a village, which was later to become the Melbourne of today.
What were the reasons for settlement in Victoria?
European exploration and settlement. European Victoria was founded by groups of pastoral pioneers who crossed Bass Strait from Van Diemen's Land (renamed Tasmania in 1856) in the 1830s in search of fertile grazing land.
Which Australian state did not have convicts?
South AustraliaSouth Australia was an experimental British colony and the only Australian colony which did not officially take convicts.
Who was the youngest convict sent to Australia?
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.
Why was Port Phillip chosen as a settlement?
King decided to establish a convict settlement at Port Phillip, mainly to stake a claim to southern Australia ahead of the French. The original settlement was established in 1803 at Sullivan Bay, very close to today's coastal township of Sorrento.
Was Victoria set up as a penal colony or a free settlement?
Victoria was originally part of New South Wales Colony. New South Wales basically included the entire Eastern half of Australia. However the small penal colony originally settled in Sydney slowly grew beyond the confines of the area.
Who first settled in Victoria?
Victoria 's first permanent European settlement is established at Portland Bay by pioneer Edward Henty on 19 November.
How long after settlement do you get the keys?
around 6 weeksAt settlement, your lender will disburse funds for your home loan and you'll receive the keys to your home. Generally, settlement takes place around 6 weeks after contracts are exchanged. Your conveyancer or solicitor can check and negotiate the settlement period with the seller.
What was Victoria originally called?
In 1851 Port Phillip District separated from New South Wales and renamed itself the Colony of Victoria.
How long is settlement in Victoria?
30 to 90 daysThe settlement period is usually 30 to 90 days. Settlement is the date when you: pay the balance of the purchase price to the seller. get the property title and become the registered owner.
Where were the first penal colonies in Australia?
Although Australia's first penal colony was often called Botany Bay, its actual site was at Sydney on Port Jackson. Although currently under dispute, many believe that Captain James Cook originally discovered the east coast of the continent in 1770 and named it New South Wales.
Was Tasmania a penal colony?
Tasmania had some of Australia's largest and most notorious penal settlements. Between 1804 and 1853, more than 70,000 convicts were forcibly transported to Tasmania and set to work building, mining, pining and farming for the state and private landowners.
When did convicts land in Australia?
1788Between 1788 and 1868 more than 162,000 convicts were transported to Australia. Of these, about 7000 arrived in 1833 alone. The convicts were transported as punishment for crimes committed in Britain and Ireland.
Where did convict ships sail from?
Portsmouth, EnglandOn May 13, 1787, the “First Fleet” of military leaders, sailors, and convicts set sail from Portsmouth, England, to found the first European colony in Australia, Botany Bay.
Where was Victoria first settled?
Victoria's first successful British settlement was at Portland, on the west coast of what is now Victoria. Portland was settled on 19 November 1834 by the Henty family, who were originally farmers from Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). When Major Thomas Mitchell led an expedition to the region from Sydney in 1835, arriving at Portland in August 1836, he was surprised to find a small but prosperous community living off the fertile farmland.
What was the name of the rebellion against the government of Victoria?
In 1854 there was an armed rebellion against the government of Victoria by miners protesting against mining taxes (the " Eureka Stockade "). This was crushed by British troops, but some of the leaders of the rebellion subsequently became members of the Victoria Parliament, and the rebellion is regarded as a pivotal moment in the development of Australian democracy.
What was the first foreign military action by the colony of Victoria?
The first foreign military action by the colony of Victoria was to send troops and a warship to New Zealand as part of the New Zealand Wars. Troops from New South Wales had previously participated in the Crimean War .
How much gold did Victoria produce in 1851?
Victoria produced in the decade 1851–1860, twenty million ounces of gold, one third of the world's output.
How long have Aboriginal people lived in Victoria?
According to Gary Presland, Aboriginal people have lived in Victoria for about 40,000 years, living a semi-nomadic existence of fishing, hunting and gathering, and farming eels, as is evident in the Budj Bim heritage areas.
What was the name of the Australian state before the British colonization?
This article describes the history of the Australian colony and state of Victoria . Before British colonisation of Australia, many Aboriginal peoples lived in the area now known as Victoria. A couple of years after the first Europeans settled there, in September 1836 the area became part of the colony of New South Wales, ...
When was the first Aboriginal settlement in Tasmania?
Archaeological sites in Tasmania and on the Bass Strait Islands have been dated to between 20,000 – 35,000 years ago, when sea levels were 130 metres below present level allowing Aboriginal people to move across the region of southern Victoria and on to the land bridge of the Bassian plain to Tasmania by at least 35,000 years ago.
What were the early settlers of Melbourne?
And much of Melbourne’s early beginnings – buildings, roads, water cartage and general municipal work – was a direct result of the efforts of convict labour imported from Sydney.
Who wrote the convicts of Port Phillip?
Keith Clarke’ s “ Convicts of the Port Phillip District ” has become THE go to book on the topic of convicts in Victoria. Apart from giving a history of the convict system, the book is a compilation of 3700 convicts who were in the Port Phillip settlement before 1850.
When was Melbourne founded?
Expeditions into the bay took place in 1803 to establish the first settlement in Victoria, near Sorrento, but this was abandoned within a year. However 30 years later, settlers from Tasmania returned to establish Melbourne, now the state’s capital city.
What was the name of the state in 1803-1851?
Highlight: Convicts in Victoria, Australia 1803-1851. Port Phillip District was the original name for what became the present state of Victoria in Australia, and was known as this from 1802 to 1851.
How many Australians descend from convicts?
Attitudes became more accepting in the 20th century, and it is now considered by many Australians to be a cause for celebration to discover a convict in one's lineage. Almost 20% of modern Australians, in addition to 2 million Britons, are descended from transported convicts.
How many convicts were transported from Britain to Australia?
Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia.
Why were the convicts called "Exiles"?
They were referred to either as "Exiles" or the "Pentonvillians" because most of them came from Pentonville Probationary Prison. Unlike earlier convicts who were required to work for the government or on hire from penal depots, the Exiles were free to work for pay, but could not leave the district to which they were assigned. The Port Phillip District was still part of New South Wales at this stage. Victoria separated from New South Wales and became an independent colony in 1851.
Where were convicts transported?
Convict were transported from Britain to penal colonies in Australia. This article is about the historical transportation of convicts to Australia. For the modern Australian penal system, see Punishment in Australia. Convicts in Sydney, 1793, by Juan Ravenet. Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain ...
What crimes were transported in the 1830s?
The majority of convicts were transported for petty crimes. More serious crimes, such as rape and murder, became transportable offences in the 1830s, but since they were also punishable by death, comparatively few convicts were transported for such crimes.
Why was Macquarie Harbour established?
The Macquarie Harbour penal colony on the West Coast of Tasmania was established in 1820 to exploit the valuable timber Huon Pine growing there for furniture making and shipbuilding. Macquarie Harbour had the added advantage of being almost impossible to escape from, most attempts ending with the convicts either drowning, dying of starvation in the bush, or (on at least two occasions) turning cannibal. Convicts sent to this settlement had usually re-offended during their sentence of transportation, and were treated very harshly, labouring in cold and wet weather, and subjected to severe corporal punishment for minor infractions.
What is Sydney Cove?
There they established the first permanent European colony on the Australian continent, New South Wales, on 26 January. The area has since developed into the city of Sydney. This date is still celebrated as Australia Day .
Where was Victoria Settlement?
On a recent trip to the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory I visited the ruins of Victoria Settlement at Port Essington. Victoria Settlement, established 1838 and disbanded 1849, was brought about by a plan of the British government and the East India Company to set up a military settlement and a re-victualling point for shipping through Torres Strait.
Who were the first two people buried in Victoria?
The first two burials, Pte Joseph Churchill and Pte Edmund Oakley , dated 22nd September 1824, would have been members of Captain Bremer’s first expedition which was only at Port Essington for a few days.
What happened to the Port Essington settlement?
On 3rd November 1849 the settlement was abandoned and Captain McArthur and his company sailed away on “Meander” for Sydney, the friendly aborigines wailing in grief. McArthur, Lambrick with his daughter Emma, and Lieutenant Dunbar returned to England arriving there on 9th November 1850.
Where did Captain Bremer take possession of the British flag?
In September 1824 at Record Point, Port Essington, Captain Bremer unfurled the British flag and took possession of two thousand miles of uninhabited coastline from Cape York westwards. Bremer could not find any fresh water at Port Essington so within a few days the tiny fleet weighed anchor and sailed for Bathurst and Melville Islands.
Why did the Melville Island settlement fail?
Their failure was due to a number of reasons – the oppressive climate, sickness, loneliness, monotony, depression and hostile aborigines, all of which contributed.
When did the Aborigines arrive in Port Essington?
They arrived at Port Essington on 26th October where local aborigines welcomed their arrival and helped them find water. With the aid of convicts assigned to the expedition the pre-fabricated buildings were erected. Local rock was used for foundations.
When did Fr. Confalonieri die?
On 9th January 1848 Fr Confalonieri died in the hospital. He had been found in his hut a few days before, suffering from fever, and was taken to the hospital. “Sacred to the memory of the Dr of the Settlement Died Port Essington”. Note: Richard Tiltson March 1849.
What was the most fearsome punishment in Victoria?
In Victoria's early days of penal reform, the vilest criminals faced the most fearsome punishment – the prison hulk.
What were the first settlements in Port Phillip?
Some of the first settlements in Port Phillip were manned by convicts, but harsh conditions and lack of resources saw many escape – and then return when they realised there was nowhere else to go. Although Victoria's first settlers may have thought of Port Phillip as a free colony, convicts worked for land-owners and later prison 'hulk' ships ...
How long did William Buckley live in the Aboriginal community?
After 32 years living in an Aboriginal community, William Buckley found himself stranded between two cultures.
Was the first settlement at Sullivan Bay a success?
The first settlement at Sullivan Bay wasn't a success, with convicts and settlers alike struggling to stay alive.
What is a convict in Australia?
Convicts were people who were convicted of crime in Britain, Ireland or other places in the British Empire and transported to Australia. For people convicted of crime locally see Prison Records.
Where were convicts sent to?
After permanent settlement begun in 1836 there were convicts serving their sentences in Victoria. All of these convicts were originally sent to New South Wales; Victoria was then the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. Transportation of convicts to New South Wales ended in 1840.
What was required before convicts could marry?
The consent of the Governor was required before convicts could marry. It should be noted that just because permission to marry was granted it means that the marriage actually took place.
When did convicts leave New South Wales?
Transportation of convicts to New South Wales ended in 1840. The Port Phillip District government no longer employed convicts on government works from about 1843. The convicts' records can be seen in the New South Wales convict records. Between 1844 and 1849, 1727 ex prisoners who had served their sentences were sent to Victoria.
Why were the exiles called Pentonvillians?
They were known as "Exiles". They were also referred to as "Pentonvillians" because most of them came from Pentonville Probationary Prison in England. Their immigration records can be found under Assisted Immigration Records.
When was the second attempt to establish a convict settlement in Port Phillip Bay?
Settlement at Western Port. The British government's second attempt to establish a convict settlement in Port Phillip Bay took place in 1826. Just like the attempted settlement at Sullivan Bay in 1802, this second venture was inspired by glowing accounts from explorers.
What did Victoria's early explorers leave a permanent mark on?
Victoria’s early explorers left a permanent mark on the landscape.
Why did the French settle in Port Phillip?
A significant motivator for settling in Port Phillip was the fact that the French had already visited the area, and the colonial government feared the French would claim the area first.
Who was the French artist who recorded an image of what appears to be fishermen hauling a net in Mangrove Creek?
The French were indeed in Western Port, and in 1826 French artist Louis de Sainson was on the exploration vessel l'Astrolabe when he recorded an image of what appears to be fishermen hauling a net in Mangrove Creek.
Overview
Interest grows in the north coast of Bass Strait
Following a number of exploratory expeditions south from the settled areas of New South Wales, the pastoralist Hamilton Hume and former sea-captain William Hovell set off to explore the country to the south in October 1824. They crossed the Murray River (which they named the Hume River) near the site of Albury and continued south. They crossed the Goulburn River (which they called the Hovell) above the site of Yea, and were forced to detour around mountains. They arrived on the s…
Aboriginal history
The state of Victoria was originally home to many Aboriginal nations that had occupied the land for tens of thousands of years. According to Gary Presland, Aboriginal people have lived in Victoria for about 40,000 years, living a semi-nomadic existence of fishing, hunting and gathering, and farming eels, as is evident in the Budj Bim heritage areas.
Early European exploration
Coming from New Zealand in 1770, Lieutenant James Cook in HM Bark Endeavour sighted land at Point Hicks, about 70 km west of Gabo Island, before turning east and north to follow the coast of Australia.
Ships sailing from Great Britain to Sydney crossed the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean, sailing around Van Diemen's Land before turning north to their destination. Several captains viewed the …
1803 British settlement
With Britain involved in the French revolutionary wars, Governor King was concerned that Bass Strait could harbour enemy raiders, and that in peace time it could provide an important trade route and trading base. The appearance of Baudin's ships served to reinforce the concern that France was interested in the area. King was also looking for an alternative settlement for the increasing nu…
Permanent European settlement
Victoria's first successful British settlement was at Portland, on the west coast of what is now Victoria. Portland was settled on 19 November 1834 by the Henty family, who were originally farmers from Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). When Major Thomas Mitchell led an expedition to the region from Sydney in 1835, arriving at Portland in August 1836, he was surprised to find a small but prosp…
Separation from New South Wales
The first petition for the separation of the Port Phillip District (or 'Australia Felix') from New South Wales was drafted in 1840 by Henry Fyshe Gisborne and presented by him to Governor Gipps. Gipps, who had previously been in favour of separation, rejected the petition.
Agitation of the Port Phillip settlers continued and led to the establishment of Port Phillip District as a separate colony on 1 July 1851. The British Act of Parliament separating Port Phillip Distric…
1850s gold rush
In 1851 gold was first discovered in Clunes and Buninyong near Ballarat, and subsequently at Bendigo. Later discoveries occurred at many sites across Victoria. This triggered one of the largest gold rushes the world has ever seen. The colony grew rapidly in both population and economic power. In ten years the population of Victoria increased sevenfold from 76,000 to 540,000. All sorts of gold records were produced including the "richest shallow alluvial goldfield i…
Overview
Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia.
The British Government began transporting convicts overseas to American colonies in the early 18th century. When transportation ended with the start of the American Revolution, an alternative site was needed to relieve further ove…
Reasons for transportation
According to Robert Hughes in The Fatal Shore, the population of England and Wales, which had remained steady at 6 million from 1700 to 1740, began rising considerably after 1740. By the time of the American Revolution, London was overcrowded, filled with the unemployed, and flooded with cheap gin. Poverty, social injustice, child labour, harsh and dirty living conditions and long working …
History
Alternatives to the American colonies were investigated and the newly discovered and mapped East Coast of New Holland was proposed. The details provided by James Cook during his expedition to the South Pacific in 1770 made it the most suitable.
On 18 August 1786, the decision was made to send a colonisation party of con…
Women
Between 1788 and 1852, about 24,000 transportees were women, one in seven. 80% of women had been convicted of theft, usually petty. For protection, many quickly attached themselves to male officers or convicts. Although they were routinely referred to as courtesans, no women were transported for prostitution, as it was not a transportable offence.
Political prisoners
Approximately 3,600 political prisoners were transported to the Australian colonies, many of whom arrived in waves corresponding to political unrest in Britain and Ireland. They included the First Scottish Martyrs in 1794; British Naval Mutineers (from the Nore Mutiny) in 1797 and 1801; Irish rebels in 1798, 1803, 1848 and 1868; Cato Street Conspirators (1820); Scots Rebels (1820); Yorkshir…
Cessation of transportation
With increasing numbers of free settlers entering New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) by the mid-1830s, opposition to the transportation of felons into the colonies grew. The most influential spokesmen were newspaper proprietors who were also members of the Independent Congregation Church such as John Fairfax in Sydney and the Reverend John West in Launceston, who argued against convicts both as competition to honest free labourers and as t…
Legacy
In 2010, UNESCO inscribed 11 Australian Convict Sites on its World Heritage List. The listing recognises the sites as "the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation and the colonial expansion of European powers through the presence and labour of convicts."
Convict George Barrington is (perhaps apocryphally) recorded as having writte…
Notable convicts transported to Australia
• Esther Abrahams – British Jew, who was one of the Jewish convicts (about 1,000 in all) and common-law wife of a leader of the Rum Rebellion.
• George Barrington - pickpocket, superintendent of convicts and high constable of Parramatta