Australia and Convict History

1718-1783	About 50,000 British criminals were transported to colonies in America.
1775-1783	AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE - hostilities with Britain brought transportation to a halt.
1783-1787	British prisons and hulks began to over-flow.
1786	The colony of New South Wales was proclaimed by King George III
23/01/1787	British parliament informed that Lord Sydney had agreed to send convicts to New South Wales.
13/05/1787	The 11 ships of the FIRST FLEET left Portsmouth under the command of Capt Arthur Phillip. Different accounts give varying numbers of passengers but the fleet consisted of at least 1,350 souls of whom 780 were convicts and 570 were freemen, women and children and the number included four companies of marines. About 20% of the convicts were women and the oldest convict was 82. About 50% of the convicts had been tried in Middlesex and most of the rest were tried in the county assizes of Devon, Kent and Sussex.
18/01/1788	The fleet arrived in Botany Bay but the landing party was not impressed with the site, and moved the fleet to Port Jackson and settled in Sydney Cove on 26/01/1788.
1790	SECOND FLEET of convicts arrived.
1791	THIRD FLEET of convicts arrived.
1793	First free settlers arrived.
14/06/1825	The colony of VAN DIEMEN'S LAND was established in its own right and its name was officially changed to TASMANIA on 01/01/1856. The first settlement was made at Risdon on 11/09/1803 when Lieut John Bowen landed with about 50 settlers, crew, soldiers and convicts. The site proved unsuitable and was abandoned in August 1804. Lieut-Col David Collins finally established a successful settlement at Hobart in February 1804 with a party of about 260 people, including 178 convicts. (Collins had previously attempted a settlement in Victoria.) Convict ships were sent from England directly to the colony from 1812-1853 and over the 50 years from 1803-1853 around 67,000 convicts were transported to Tasmania. About 14,492 were Irish but many of them had been sentenced in English and Scottish courts. Some were also tried locally in other Australian colonies. The "Indefatigable" brought the first convicts direct from England on 19/10/1812 and by 1820 there were about 2,500 convicts in the colony. By the end of 1833 the number had increased to 14,900 convicts of whom 1864 were females. About 1,448 held Tickets of Leave, 6,573 were assigned to settlers and 275 were recorded as "absconded or missing". In 1835 there were over 800 convicts working in chain-gangs at the dreaded penal station at Port Arthur which operated from 1830-1877. Convicts were transferred to Van Diemen's Land from Sydney and, in later years, from 1841-1847, from Melbourne. Between 1826-1840 there were at least 19 ship loads of convicts sent from Van Diemen's Land to Norfolk Island and at other times they were sent from Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land.
21/01/1827	WESTERN AUSTRALIA was established when a small British settlement was established at King George's Sound (Albany) by Major Edmund Lockyer who was to provide a deterrent to the French presence in the area. On 18/06/1829 the new Swan River Colony was officially proclaimed with Captain James Stirling as the first Governor. Except for the settlement at King George's Sound, the colony was never really a part of NSW. King George's Sound was handed over in 1831. In 1849 the colony was proclaimed a British penal settlement and the first convicts arrived in 1850. Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, became the colony's convict settlement in 1838 and was used for local colonial offenders. Around 9,720 British convicts were sent directly to the colony in 43 ships between1850-1868. The convicts were sought by local settlers because of the shortage of labour needed to develop the region. On January 9, 1868, Australia's last convict ship, the "Hougoumont" brought its final cargo of 269 convicts. Convicts sent to Western Australia were sentenced to terms of 6, 7, 10, 14 and 15 years and some reports suggest that their literacy rate was around 75% as opposed to 50% for those sent to NSW and Tasmania. About a third of the convicts left the Swan River Colony after serving their time.
28/12/1836	The British province of SOUTH AUSTRALIA was established. In 1842 it became a crown colony and on 22/07/1861 its area was extended westwards to its present boundary and more area was taken from New South Wales. South Australia was never a British convict colony and between 1836-1840 about 13,400 immigrants arrived in the area. 24,900 more arrived between 1841-1850. Some escaped convicts did settle in the area and no doubt a number of ex-convicts moved there from other colonies. There were also South Australian convicts who were convicted of colonial offences.
1841	NEW ZEALAND separated from New South Wales.
1851	VICTORIA separated from New South Wales (formerly known as the Port Phillip District of NSW. Apart from castaways and runaway convicts in the 1790s, the first attempt at settlement was made on 13/10/1803 by Lieut David Collins and his party of soldiers and convicts. Harsh conditions convinced him to abandon the settlement in January 1804. He moved on to Tasmania and it was not until the Henty brothers landed in Portland Bay on 19/11/1834 and John Batman settled on the site of Melbourne that the Port Phillip District was officially sanctioned on 10/04/1837. The first immigrant ships arrived at Port Phillip in 1839. Apart from those involved in early attempts at settlement in 1803 and 1826, the only convicts sent directly to Victoria from Britain were about 1,750 convicts known as the "Exiles" and they arrived between 1844-1849. They were sometimes called the "Pentonvillians" because most of them came from Pentonville Probationary Prison in England. Many ex-convicts and convicts on Tickets of Leave and Conditional Pardons also moved to Port Phillip from Van Diemen's Land.
10/12/1859	QUEENSLAND separated from New South Wales. In 1824 the explorer Lieut. John Oxley took a party of 30 convicts and established a penal colony at Redcliffe. Known as the Moreton Bay Settlement, this later moved to the site now called Brisbane. The name Brisbane Town was in use by 1825 and the main inhabitants in the area were the convicts of the Moreton Bay Penal Station until it was closed in 1839. Around 2,280 convicts were sent to the settlement between 1824-1839 and at the end of 1836 the convict population numbered 337. The first free settlers moved to the district in 1838 and others followed in 1840. On 23/12/1862 the area of QUEENSLAND was increased.
1863	In 1825 the area occupied today by the NORTHERN TERRITORY was incorporated into the colony of New South Wales. It was first settled by Europeans in 1824 at Fort Dundas, Port Essington. In 1863 control of the area was given to the Province, and later the State, of South Australia. Its capital city, Darwin, was established in 1869 and was originally known as Palmerston. On January 1, 1912, the NORTHERN TERRITORY as we know it today, was separated from South Australia and became part of the Commonwealth of Australia.
1901	The FEDERATION of Australian States took place.
1911	The AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY was established.

Source: Tracing your family history in Australia: a guide to sources

Nick Vine Hall, 1944

WW1 - Indian Soldier - Victoria Cross Medal Recipient - Shahamad Khan

Victoria Cross Medal Recipient during WW1 Shahamad Khan was born in Takhti near Rawalpindi, India (now Pakistan). He was born  on 1^st July 1879. He was Niak in the 89th Punjabis, British Indian Army serving on the Tigris Front in Mesopotamia.

"Shahamad Khan was in charge of a machine-gun section 150 yards from the enemy's position, covering a gap in the New Line at Beit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia on 12th/13 April 1916. After all his men, apart from two belt-fillers, had become casualties, Shamahad Khan, working the gun single-handed, repelled three counter-attacks. Under extremely heavy fire, he continued to hold the gap, whilst it was being made secure, for three hours. When his gun was disabled by enemy fire, he and the two belt-fillers continued to hold the ground with their rifles until they were ordered to retire. Along with the three men who were sent to his assistance, he brought back to his own lines, his gun, ammunition and a severely wounded man. Eventually he returned to remove all remaining arms and equipment, except for two shovels. But for his action, the line would undoubtedly have been penetrated by the enemy.”

The London Gazette, 26 September 1916.

 

His Victoria Cross medal was purchased privately by Lord Ashcroft collection in 1999. It is displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery and Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum

He died on 28^th July 1947 in Takhti, near Rawalpindi.

Australia - 1851 Gold Rush

In 1851 there was a gold rush in Victoria. The result was a huge influx of new settlers into Australia. From 430,000 in 1851 the population of Australia rose to 1.2 million in 1861. In 1861 Melbourne was the largest city with a population of about 125,000. Sydney had about 100,000 people.

Australia and Merino Sheep

 

In 1797 Merino sheep were brought to Australia. The number of sheep in Australia quickly boomed. There was a huge demand for their wool in England. By 1820 there 100,000 sheep in Australia. By 1830 the figure had reached 1 million. There were 1 million sheep in Tasmania. By 1850 there were 13 million sheep in New South Wales. By 1850 half of all wool woven in Britain came from Australia.

Convicts and Australia

 

During the 17th century and 18th century European explorers reached Australia. In 1770 Captain Cook claimed eastern Australia for Britain. He called it New South Wales.

Life was hard for ordinary people in the 18th century and punishments for even minor crimes were severe. In England you could be hanged for more than 200 different offences. However as an alternative to hanging prisoners were sometimes sentenced to transportation. In the 18th century convicts were transported to Virginia and Maryland in what is now the USA. Transportation was a relatively humane punishment. At any rate it was better than hanging!

However after the American War of Independence (1775-1783) this was no longer possible and the government began looking for a new destination for transportees. In 1786 it was decided to send them to Botany Bay.

Getting rid of undesirable members of society may not have been the sole motive for founding a colony in Australia. The British may have hoped to found a naval base in the Pacific. They also hoped Australia would be a source of timber and flax.

At any rate on 13 May 1787 a fleet of 11 ships set sail from Portsmouth. On board were 759 convicts, most of them men with sailors and marines to guard the prisoners. Captain Arthur Philip commanded them. With them they took seeds, farm implements, livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses and chickens and 2 years supply of food. The first colonists came ashore at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788.

At first things were difficult for the colonists and food was short although Phillip sent a ship to South Africa for more provisions which returned in May 1789. Food was rationed and the rations were anything but generous. However things gradually improved. A second fleet arrived in 1790 and a third fleet came in 1791. At first the settlers lived in simple wooden huts but later convicts made bricks for houses.

Captain Phillip left Australia in December 1792. When he returned to England he took samples of Australian plants and animals. He also took two indigenous people.

At first convicts worked on government land for provisions but from 1793 those who behaved well were freed and given grants of land. Also the first free settlers arrived in 1793. Although hopes of growing flax in Australia came to nothing but whales were hunted in the Pacific and seals were hunted in the Bass Strait.

Old Government House

 

The term ‘Government House’ is used in Australia and other former British colonies to designate the residence of the Governor or other vice-regal representative.

The first Government House in New South Wales was built early in 1788 at Sydney Cove followed by Parramatta.

Old Government is located on the Parramatta River adjacent to the City of Parramatta CBD. It was the core tribal lands of the Burramattagal people of the Darug nation for thousands of years before settlement by Europeans in 1788 under Governor Arthur Phillip.

Old Government House is representative of the second settlement of the Colony of NSW. It was the site of Government administration of the new colony and a significant convict system. It was a site of intensive public works and industry. It was an important location in agricultural development and experimentation and played an important role is establishing the viability of the colony, especially in the initial years of struggle against famine, the environment and cultural displacement.

Parramatta Park is a nationally significant cultural landscape closely associated with early colonial government, with the beginnings of rural settlement in Australia and with the exploration and expansion of colonisation. The evolution of this site from Aboriginal land to colonial outpost, to Vice Regal domain and subsequently as a public park, is unique in Australia. It contains relics of historical, scientific and aesthetic significance, including: scar trees and archaeological sites documenting Aboriginal occupation; transit stones from Governor Brisbane’s 1821 observatory;

Old Government House and its associated outbuildings dating to the late 18th century; six 19th and 20th century gatehouses; the Dairy, which contains one of the oldest intact buildings in Australia; the landscape which

demonstrates the evolution of agriculture and development of the first successful farm and the early colony of Rose Hill; an unusual and important Boer War Memorial; and important communities of remnant Cumberland Plain woodland vegetation. The Park is unique in its significance as a rich and intact archaeological resource with great research potential.

 

The site is managed by two entities - Parramatta Park Trust manages the parklands known as Parramatta Park and The National Trust of Australia (NSW) manages Old Government House, which sits on a small hill in a central location within the parklands.

Over the past 220 years, Old Government House is reflecting its changing uses as well as patterns in the history of Parramatta. Old Government House is a highly regarded heritage site.

WW1 - William Hutchison

 

Private William Hutchison was born in Mulwala, Victoria. His father was William Hutchison of Daniel St, Granville, NSW. William was a farmer before joining the army at the age of 19. He served in 3rd Battalion and his service number was 2127. He served in Gallipoli and was killed in action on 10 July 1915. He is buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey Plot 1, Row A, Grave 20.

Samual Pyers - Convict

 

Samual Pyers was born in 1771.  was tried on 13 Sep 1790 at Middlesex. He was sentenced to 7 yrs transportation. He arrived at Port Jackson on board the 'Active' (3rd fleet) on 26 Sep 1791. On 25th of October 1797, Sarah was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey. She was 14 years old at that time. Sarah Johnson was living with Samuel Pyers in 1801. On 2nd November 1801, Samual and Sarah were married by Rev Henry Fulton. In 1802 Samual's occupation was listed as a constable and later as a farmer. In 1805 Samual was listed as a land holder on Norfolk Island, holding 14 acres of land, 10¾ of which were in crops. On this land Samual had two dwelling houses as well as two outhouses. When it was decided to abandon the settlement on Norfolk Island the people were deported to Van Diemen's Land.

Samaual and Sarah and their three children: Richard, Mary and Sarah were removed to Hobart (5th embarkation) arriving there 1 Oct 1808. Samual was granted 30 acres of land in 1811 (in lieu of the land he had held on Norfolk Island) at New Town. In 1823 he received a grant of 50 acres in the district of Morvin, and 30 arces at Glenorchy. Samual and Sarah had another 5 children in Tasmania - Maria, Hanna, Samual, Susannah and George. They sold their 30 acres in Newtown in 1840 and moved to the Hamilton area where Sarah died 11 May 1840 from inflammation of lungs. She was 61 years old. Samual died at Fairydale on the 13 Aug 1850 at the age of 79. Both, Sarah and Samual are buried at St. Peter’s Hamilton.  

Four of his children were amongst the first settlers in Victoria. Richard, the eldest, along with his wife and two children settled at Portland in October 1839, Susannah and her husband, James Cook, at Gleneg River (Casterton)in 1839/40, George arrived in 1840 and lived at Buninyong before becoming a squatter in the Donald area. Samual also farmed in the Merino area and later in the Charlton District.

Australia

 

Australia is estimated to be 7,692,024 square Kilometres. It is the sixth largest nation after Brazil, Canada, China, Russia and the United States of America. However, Australia has a relatively small population. As of 3^rd July 2015 it is 23,819,381.

Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth. Its interior has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world. Its fertile areas are well-watered.

The Australian federation consists of six States and two Territories. Most inland borders follow lines of longitude and latitude. The largest State, Western Australia, is about the same size as Western Europe. Six Australian States are - New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. And two Territories are – Australian Capital Territory and northern Territory.

Australia’s culturally diverse society includes its Indigenous peoples who arrived more than 50,000 years ago, and settlers from countries all around the world. Immigration is an important feature of Australian society. Over six million people from 200 countries have come to Australia as new settlers. Migrants have made a major contribution to shaping modern Australia. People born overseas make up almost one quarter of the total population.