Convicts of the British Colonisation
During the British Colonisation from 1788 to the 19th century, convicts were sent to work in Australia as punishment for their crimes. These crimes ranged from stealing and abuse to burglary and murder. Transportation to Australia was well recognised as an alternative to execution, the death sentence. Below are some of the many convicts that have made a significant impact on shaping Australia. They each play an important role in our history. Click on an image to learn more about the selected convict.
James Ruse is known to have produced the first successful wheat harvest in all of New South Wales in 1789.
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Mary Wade is recognised as Australia's greatest matriarch with descendants in the tens of thousands.
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John Hudson was a young convict whose story brought attention to the unfair treatment of convict children.
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Mary Reibey was known as the most successful businesswoman in Sydney, New South Wales during colonisation.
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Joseph Backler was a convict artist that had been well regarded for his portrait oil paintings based on photography.
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Esther Abrahams was both a successful farmer and for a short length of time, the colony's unofficial First Lady.
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