Life in the Colony

1. Life in the Colony

2. Revision Why did England want to establish a penal colony in Australia? Why was crime such a problem in England at the time? What was one of the most common crimes for which transportation was ordered? What were conditions like on the ships?

3. Conditions on the Second Fleet • Convicts were kept closely chained together so they could hardly move. Chains were not taken off, even if the wearer was dying • One ship was leaky and convicts were at times up to their waists in water • No bedding, no toilets, no fresh air, no exercise, no way of keeping clean • Convicts not given full rations so the Captain could sell what remained at the end of the voyage. Convicts sought to keep any deaths a secret so they could have the dead person’s rations • The Governor was horrified by the condition of the convicts who arrived in Australia. He complained to England. The Captain was tried but not punished for his cruelty. Later, Captains were paid a bonus for every convict who arrived alive to ensure they cared for them properly.

4. Conditions on the Fleets • Poor and rationed food • Diseases • Limited privacy • Boredom • Lack of water – Water was always rationed. Often ships began with water from the Thames, which was badly polluted and smelt so bad they could barely choke it down.

5. Convict Men • Convict men built bridges, courthouses and hospitals. • Some worked as carpenters, brickmakers or shepherds, or tended cattle • Educated men worked as record keepers

6. Convict Women • Female convicts worked as servants, either farming or cleaning for soldiers or free settlers • Sometimes they might help to build roads • Some convict women were sent to the Female Factory where they were employed to make rope, sew, or spin wool for blankets

7. Freedom • Convicts who finished their sentence or were pardoned by the governor were freed and given the same rights as free settlers. • Ticket of Leave: Convicts who behaved well were given a ticket of leave or certificate of freedom. They were considered free, but their ticket could be cancelled if they misbehaved before their sentence would have ended. For example, if a convict was sentenced to “transportation for seven years” and behaved well, he might be given a ticket of leave after only five of the seven years. While he would be considered free for the sixth and seventh year, if he committed a crime his freedom could be cancelled and he would have to serve out the last two years as a convict 

8. Life in the Colony - Punishments • A flogging (whipping) with a cat of nine tails was a common punishment • Chaining convicts together • Giving convicts only bread and water

9. Escape Many convicts attempted to escape. Convict William Buckley had been given transportation for life for receiving a roll of cloth he knew was stolen. He escaped in 1803. He was found starving and near death by the Wathawarung people. They believed he was a warrior who had returned from the dead and they welcomed him into their group. He lived with them for 32 years. One day, he overheard some of his adopted people plotting to kill some Europeans. He made himself known to them to warn them. He was pardoned and rejoined European society and became an interpreter and peacemaker.

10. Secondary Colonies • Some convicts were sent to “Secondary Colonies” such as Port Arthur in Tasmania • Those who continued to commit crimes as convicts often sent to these colonies • Conditions were very harsh and cruel – for example at Point Puer, boys as young as 8 were sometimes kept in underground cells • MoretonBay was considered one of the worst colonies. What do you learn from the song, “Moreton Bay”?

11. Moreton Bay One Sunday morning as I went walking 
By Brisbane waters I chanced to stray
I heard a convict his fate bewailing 
As on the sunny river bank I lay
I am a native from Erin's island
But banished now from my native shore
They stole me from my aged parents 
And from the maiden I do adore

I've been a prisoner at Port Macquarie
At Norfolk Island and Emu Plains
At Castle Hill and at cursed Toongabbie
At all these settlements I've been in chains
But of all places of condemnation
And penal stations in New South Wales
To Moreton Bay I have found no equal
Excessive tyranny each day prevails
For three long years I was beastly treated 
And heavy irons on my legs I wore
My back from flogging was lacerated
And oft times painted with my crimson gore
And many a man from downright starvation
Lies mouldering now underneath the clay
And Captain Logan he had us mangled
All at the triangles of Moreton Bay
Like the Egyptians and ancient Hebrews
We were oppressed under Logan's yoke
Till a native black lying there in ambush
Did deal this tyrant his mortal stroke
My fellow prisoners be exhilarated
That all such monsters such a death may find
And when from bondage we are liberated
Our former sufferings will fade from mind

12. Moreton Bay • What happened at Moreton Bay? • What happened to Captain Logan?

14. What is happening in these images?How do you feel when you see them?

15. What might they tell you about early life in the colony?

16. Life as a Free Settler • Free settlers faced many challenges in the foreign climate • Growing enough food to feed themselves and families was difficult, as they had to clear dense bushlandand plough hard rocky ground and were often affected by drought or flood • Officers of the army were very powerful, particularly in NSW where they controlled most of the colony’s trade, particularly the trade in rum

17. What was the “Rum Rebellion?” • Use your computers to find out: • When did the rum rebellion occur? • What happened? • Who was kept imprisoned for a year? • What happened to the ringleader?

18. The Rum Rebellion • NSW officers very powerful • Gave themselves and their friends best land • Controlled trade, especially rum trade. Rum had become main currency of colony. • Governor Bligh threatened to charge officers with treason • 1808 – led by Macarthur the officers rebelled. They kept the Governor prisoner for a year. • Macarthur expelled from army after rebellion

19. The end of transportation • Convict transportation to Australia ended in 1868 • Since 1788, 162,000 men and women had been transported to Australia in 806 shipments.

20. Revision • What was the dreamtime? • How did Aboriginal families at the time of settlement differ from modern European families? • Describe the relationship between Aboriginal people and the land.

21. Revision • What were relations like between the Indigenous people and the European settlers in the first few years of settlement? • What caused tension in the relationship? • Why did the settlers kidnap Indigenous people?

22. Treaty – YothuYindi Well I heard it on the radio 
And I saw it on the television
Back in 1988, all those talking politicians Words are easy, words are cheap
Much cheaper than our priceless land
But promises can disappear
Just like writing in the sand Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now Nhimadjat’pangarrinhimawalangwalangNhedjat’payatpanhimagayanheMatjini ... YakarrayNhedjat’panhewalanggumurrtjararrkgutjuk This land was never given up
This land was never bought and sold
The planting of the union jack
Never changed our law at all
Now two rivers run their course
Separated for so long
I’m dreaming of a brighter day
When the waters will be one Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now NhemagayakayanhegayanheNhegayanhematjiniwalangwalangnheyaNhimadjatpanhewalangGumurrtjararrkyawirrinyNhegayanhematjini
Gaya gayanhegayanheMatjiniwalangwalangNhemadjat’panhewalangNhegumurrtjarrknheya Promises disappear - priceless land - destiny
Well i heard it on the radio
And i saw it on the television
But promises can be broken
Just like writing in the sand Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now
Treaty yeah treaty now treaty yeah treaty now
Treaty yeah treaty ma treaty yeah treaty ma
Treaty yeah treaty ma treaty yeah treaty mahttp:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7cbkxn4G8U

23. Treaty This song was written after Bob Hawke, in his famous response to the Barunga Statement (1988), said there would be a Treaty between Indigenous Australians and the Australian Government by 1990. The intention of this song was to raise public awareness about this so that the government would be encouraged hold to his promise. The song became a number-one hit, the first ever to be sung in a Yol\u language, and caught the public’s imagination.

24. Treaty • Write down what the singers in this song wanted, and why • What do the singers say about the land in this song?