Famous and Infamous Convicts

The first convicts arrived in Australia on the First Fleet in January 1788. They had been sentenced in Britain to transportation to New South Wales for a range of crimes. Once in Australia, their jail was the land all around them and they were put to work to build the colony and grows its food. Britain continued to send convicts to the Penal colonies set up around Australia until 1868. Find out what life was like for convicts, what happened to them if they committed further crimes, and how some became famous in this colourful series.

Famous and Infamous Convicts introduces a number of convicts who became well known, either through infamy or achievement. All were sentenced to transportation – some tried to escape and lived as fugitives or bushrangers, while others served their time and went on to make their livings as free members of society.