Irish and British Convicts to Australia

This is the umbrella project for convicts projects and profiles currently on Geni

Between 1788 and 1868, approximately 165,000 convicts were transported to the various Australian penal colonies by the British government.

During the 17th and 18th centuries the British government transported some of their criminals to the American colonies, but this practice was brought to an end by the American Revolution and Britain's gaols became overcrowded. Transportation to Australia was set up with the First Fleet of 11 ships arriving in Botany Bay on 20 January 1788 to found a penal colony that became the first European settlement in Australia. Other penal colonies were later established in Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), Queensland and Western Australia. The last convict ship left Britain in 1867 and arrived in Western Australia on 10 January 1868.

Many of the convicts were transported for petty crimes, such as stealing a handkerchief or a pair of buckles, and some were as young as 11 or 12. After their prison terms were served most stayed in Australia and joined the other settlers, with some rising to respected positions in Australian society.

How can you help?

• First of all you will need to join this project by clicking on the Actions button in the top right of this page and select Join from the dropdown menu.
• To add a profile of an Irish convict you go to the profile click on the Actions button and select Add to project from the dropdown menu, a new dropdown menu will open and type in Irish Convicts to NSW and click done after the project appears on the screen.
• Questions can be asked here Project discussions

Top reasons why people were convicted

• 1.Stealing an animal
• 2.Stealing food
• 3.Burglary
• 4.Stealing from a person
• 5.Robbery of arms
• 6.Perjury
• 7.Assault
• 8.Coining
• 9.Manslaughter

Convict life

• Life on a convict ship
• First Fleet database
• A day in the life of a convict
• Convict life in NSW
• Images of convict life
• An account of the English Colony in New South Wales

Country projects

• Irish Convicts to Australia
• England
• Barbados

Related projects

• Convicts and Naval Personnel on the First Fleet, Australia, 1788
• Convicts, Naval Personnel and Free Settlers on the Third Fleet, Australia, 1791
• Convicts, Naval Personnel and Free Settlers on the Second Fleet, Australia, 1789
• Convict Ships Sent to Tasmania, Australia
• Port Arthur, Tasmania
• Convict Ship Indefatigable - Arrived VDL 19 Oct 1812
• British Migration - Main Page

External links and sources

• Afro-Australians