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It could easily be said that convicts were the ones who built Australia - socially, economically and politically.

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.

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. In the early years, convicts were put to work immediately on building projects, particularly roads, and farming. New buildings needed to be constructed as the first shelters were just tents and lean-tos. Some of the convicts were assigned as servants to the free settlers or the officers. As the colony developed, the convicts worked in more skilled areas such as smithing, building tools, and even more intellectual pursuits where they showed aptitude. One of Australia's most famous architects, Francis Greenway, was a convict.

For the reasons above, many people take pride in tracing their roots to the early Australian convicts.

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Q: How did convicts influence Australia?
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Related questions

How did sir Henry Parkes help in transporting convicts to Australia?

Sir Henry Parkes had no influence in helping transport convicts to Australia. On the contrary, he was significant in stopping the transportation of convicts. For example, Parkes was one of the demonstrators who gathered at Sydney Cove in 1849 when the ship Hashemy arrived with more convicts.


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?

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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