Convict Lives

Many historians hold differing opinions about the convict origin of Australia. It is extremely difficult to make generalisations about convicts, as all of the information is based on the personal data collated about the convicts. Nevertheless, many historians have established their opinions of the individuals that populated Australia in the 18th century.

Our 'unusual colonial origins', as Deborah Oxley explains, causes many individuals to choose to deny our convict past. However, although the relationship between our origins and the convicts was negatively viewed for many years, this changed in the 20th century, when George Arnold Wood famously argued that the convicts were in fact, 'victims, more sinned against than sinning'. Wood believed that the convicts were outcasts, who were 'good people who lived in difficult times'. He stated that crime was inevitable in Britain at the time, as the criminal condition of society was created by '...the criminal lords and Bishops'. Other historians agree, believing that convicts were in fact, victims of injustice.

In contrast, Manning Clark contends that the convicts that settled in Australia were of a 'professional criminal class'. Approximately between a quarter and a third of the convicts were 2nd offenders and for this reason, Clark argues that these individuals were from the same 'criminal' class of society. He goes on to describe the convicts as lazy and non-industrious individuals who were proud of their criminal records and saw Australia as their 'sole chance at redemption'.

Convicts - First Australian Settlers 

by Augustus Earle

Source: Brisbane Times
<http:// images.brisbanetimes.com.au/ 2009/08/03/662060>

Primary source data from the indents of the Pyramus and the Hougoumont vessels demonstrate that many of the female convicts had committed minor crimes, such as theft. As many of the women convicted were domestic servants or wives, this serves as a reason to why the crimes committed are relatively minor. Conversely, the males convicted had committed major crimes such as murder and rape, which deserved harsher punishments. Nevertheless, it was vital that a proportion of female convicts were to be brought to Australia to ensure that there would not be a gender imbalance. Although they attempted to provide for a balance between sexes, by 1834, the ratio was one female to seven males. It is also important to note that many of the convicts were in fact, workers and convicts were drawn almost entirely from the working class. Data also shows that there was a high rate of literacy among convicts. This suggests that many of them were urban dwellers, rather than rural inhabitants, which explains their lack of farming skills and inability to tend the land as first expected.  

Although various opinions exist about Australia's convict origins, over the years the viewpoint of our convict heritage has shifted from a solely negative standpoint to one where many Australians view their past in a preferred, more positive light.