Australia's Convict History

Explore these resources to inform your view about life in early Sydney. Take notes in your History book about the life of convicts in early New South Wales.  Remember to use the strategy of finding key words to identify the main ideas of the sources you view.

• Read Convicts and the British Colonies 
• Watch Episode 22-24 ‘Dan’, ‘Sam’ & ‘Waruwi’ from “My Place website”.  
• Read Hyde Park Barracks - A Day in the Life of a Convict 
• View ‘Prisoners’ Barracks, Hyde Park,’ Robert Russell, 1836 - Portrait source: National Library of Australia         
• View some paintings from State Library ‘Discover Collections
• View reenactments about life in convict New South Wales
• View and read about Life on the Land
• View images reflecting life in the colonies

Think about:

What kind of work did convicts do?

How could convicts be identified?

What sort of food did convicts eat?

What pastimes (entertainment) did they participate in?

How would you generally describe their life?

Writing Task:

Imagine you are a convict in the colony of early New South Wales.  Write a diary entry of a day in the life of a convict.