Jobs and Industries

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.
Suitable for 7-12 year olds.

Jobs and Industries gives vivid descriptions of the different types of work that convicts were assigned to after transportation. In this book, you can find out about the hardships convict chain gangs faced, the life of a female convict and the reward for years of service: a ticket-of-leave.