answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Convicts played a very important part in Australia's history. It could easily be said that convicts were the ones who built Australia - socially, economically and politically.

Economically, it was the convicts who did all the foundational work - tilling, planting and harvesting seed; experimenting with their own farms or setting up their own trades once they were free; constructing the roads and bridges of the new colony while on the road gangs; felling the timber, making the bricks, literally constructing so many of the buildings in the early decades.

Much of Australia's emerging national pride in the 1800s came from the sense of coming from a "downtrodden" class, and developing into a rich and vibrant country. Already in the early years, there was a distinction between the "currency lads and lasses", i.e. native-born Australians, and the British free settlers and officers (sometimes colloquially known as the "Sterling interlopers", for obvious reasons). The whole ethos of the "working bushman" (a concept which Australians still take pride in) came, in many respects, from a combination of the radical young currency class, together with the Irish political rebels and the working-class convicts. Had Australia been settled purely upon free British, we may have merely become a British outpost, instead of a young country struggling to throw off those "British bonds". It was upon this that Australia's social and political environment was built.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How important are convicts to Australia?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

What fleet carried convicts to Australia?

The First Fleet carried the first group of convicts to Australia. It was followed later by the Second and Third fleets, but after that, shiploads of convicts sailed independently or in pairs.


How are Australia and England related even though they are not neighbors?

Great Britain originally colonised Australia with convicts. Thus, Australia was founded by convicts, marines and officers from England.


When did convicts stop coming to Western Australia?

Western Australia was the last state in Australia to receive convicts. New South Wales had abolished transportation of convicts in 1840.The last convict ship, the "Hougoumont", left Britain in 1867 and arrived in Australia on 10 January 1868.


When was the transportation of convicts abolished?

Transportation of convicts to Australia occurred between 1788 and 1867. Convicts first arrived on 26 January 1788 with the arrival of the First Fleet in New South Wales. The last convict ship arrived in Western Australia on 10 January 1868. Transportation of convicts to Australia ceased after this.


What year did convicts leave England to go to Australia?

The transportation of convicts to Austalia continued for many decades. The First Fleet of convicts to Australia departed England in May 1787, and arrived in New South Wales in January 1788. Transportation of convicts to Australia ended when the last convict ship left Britain in 1867 and arrived in Australia on 10 January 1868. This ship, the "Hougoumont", brought its final cargo of 269 convicts to Western Australia, as New South Wales had abolished transportation of convicts in 1840.

Related questions

What did the convicts of Western Australia do in 1829?

There were no convicts in Western Australia in 1829. The first convicts in Western Australia only arrived in 1850.


What was the year when convicts first came to Australia?

Convicts first arrived in Australia in January 1788.


How did the convicts travel to Australia?

There was only one way for convicts to travel to Australia, and that was by way of wooden ships.


where were convicts transported to?

Australia.


What were the convicts collectively called that were sent to Australia?

They were simply called "convicts".


When did the transportation of convicts to Australia end?

Western Australia was the last of the states to have convicts. The last convict ship to Western Australia, the Hougoumont, left Britain in 1867 and arrived in Western Australia on 10 January 1868. Transportation of convicts to Australia ceased after this.


Did South Australia use convicts for labor?

No. South Australia was the only Australian state to never use convicts for labour.


What England bring to Australia?

CONVICTS


What fleet carried convicts to Australia?

The First Fleet carried the first group of convicts to Australia. It was followed later by the Second and Third fleets, but after that, shiploads of convicts sailed independently or in pairs.


Are there still convicts on Tasmania?

Convicts stopped being transported to Australia in 1865.There are prisoners, however, which are quite different to convicts.


How did convicts return to England?

why didnt many convicts return to England


How are Australia and England related even though they are not neighbors?

Great Britain originally colonised Australia with convicts. Thus, Australia was founded by convicts, marines and officers from England.