How Did Sydney Convicts Impact the Formation of Australia?

The history of Australia is heavily intertwined with the presence of convicts. The vast majority of Europeans who first settled in the state of New South Wales were convicts. It is estimated that about 20,000 convicted criminals were transported to the Australian colonies between 1788 and 1868. Yet, due to the fact that convicts were considered low class and of extremely little social value, their history has often been overlooked. Even though they have left an ever-lasting impact on Australia, both positively and negatively, it is crucial to understand their role in the making of the nation.

What Were the Convicts Sent to Australia?

The largest part of the convicts sent to Australia were criminals, disobeying laws set by the British Crown. At first, being sent to Australia was viewed as a last warning, a last chance that could lead to rehabilitation and redemption. Yet, as the need for labourers in the rapidly expanding colonies became more and more acute, sending criminals to the colonies was no longer shied away from but actively encouraged. By 1852, most of the convicts transported to Australia were not guilty of severe crimes but either repeat offenders or non-violent crimes. By this time, petty offences like stealing a shirt or a loaf of bread could be punishable by transportation to Australia. Additionally, not all prisoners were voluntary inmates, as was the case with hundreds of Irish rebels and political offenders who were sent to Australia as punishment for their insurrection against Britain’s rule.

Impact on Early History of Australia

The lack of a prisoners benevolent society led to certain malpractices against those sent to Australia, right from the beginning. Sentenced felons were sold to labour gangs and the system quickly collapsed, with gangs using convict labour as they wanted – abusively sometimes – but without consequence. At the same time, Australian colonies started seeing an increase in population due to the importation of convicts and some sources suggest convicts may have contributed up to 80 percent of the Australian population in the early years.A huge part of convict life in Australia was the construction of buildings and infrastructure. The first docks, bridges and roads were built by convicts and it is estimated that half of all buildings in the aging city of Sydney were built by those of convict background. They also introduced certain species of flora and fauna, particularly in food fields such as apples and potatoes, some of which were brought from their homeland before sentence delivery and then introduced after their arrival. There were also attempts (albeit largely unsuccessful) to introduce domesticated animals such as sheep and cows that could potentially run on open fields with minimal interference.

Positive & Negative Impacts on Society

The positive impacts of convicts on Australia were significant during this early phase. Large parts of Australia’s infrastructure as well as some of its animal life have been shaped by convicts’ contributions. However, there have also been some negative impacts. In particular, they drew attention away from the traditional Aboriginals and their culture, both deliberately and accidentally. The Aboriginals’ right to land ownership was often ignored or overridden in order to make way for settlers and their infrastructure initiatives. Thus, it is fair to say that although convicts had great significance in terms of helping shape what we know today as contemporary Australia, they also came with their own set of negative impacts, some of which are still felt today.

What Does it Mean Now?

Today, convicts’ roles in Australian history are better appreciated than before. The exact impact on Australian culture can be difficult to gauge at times but it is clear that many aspects of contemporary life are connected to the presence of convicts. For example, the city of Sydney got its name from Arthur Phillip (governor from 1788 to 1793), who was also a former British naval officer who had served his sentence at a convict barracks. It is obvious that even though convict transportation encompassed many uncomfortable practices such as slave trade, intense exploitation and monumental mistreatment, it also made a big difference in terms of population growth and infrastructure development. This meant that although the cost was great in terms of freedoms lost, the benefits outweighed it in terms of a growing economy. Certainly, today’s Australians owe much to those brave souls who dared face the mere possibility of a new life on strange lands, when they did not have other options but suffering or joining the rebels against Britain’s rule. For those looking to experience first-hand some of the convict stories that still remain alive today and take a walk back in time through Sydney’s very own imposing Convict Colony, we recommend joining the Convict Colony walking tour. Led by experienced guides, this 2-hour tour takes you around some of Sydney’s most renowned convict sites where you can learn more about a part of Sydney’s history that is often overlooked.