What Actually Happened To Prisoners Sent To Australia?

In the early 1800's England would send convicts on a treacherous journey by sea to Australia. Those that survived the trip were put to work in the fields and do manual labor as part of their prison sentence. Australia turned out to be one of the most brutal places to settle and made lives for prisoners nearly unlivable.

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[TheInfographicsShow]

Would you take the risk of going somewhere unknown to avoid prison?

[pessimisticpianist]

As an Australian, I should have already known all this.

*but I didn't*

[nameofthename]

i can't imagine being the first person to find a platypus. just imagine you're doing your work and suddenly you find one of em.

[tiffanyhill-anding]

When you create a empire so big that you have to colonize a continent just to create an prison out of it

[mickybludnutp]

My ancestor was transported in 1834 from England for stealing some barley to feed his family. He got 20 years leased to a property owner in Patterson N.S.W. He actually survived and eventually thrived - he had over 20 kids and there is thousands of us here in the Newcastle & Hunter valley areas of N.S.W.

[AverytheCubanAmerican]

They couldn't handle the powerful emus

[TheLiamster]

Australia: *turn that frown upside down*

[kaylarhodes]

“Took one look at the over 300 venomous specifies of animals and thought home sweet home” 😂

[daguard]

One of the most astonishing things I learned of this British Colonial era was that they sentenced to death in the UK courts were given the option of the gallows or transportation to the colonies. Over 90% chose the gallows.

[BeastmodeJones]

Its funny Australia is beautiful now..and top 20 most peaceful countries

[andrewjones]

@4:00 as an Australian who has lived in Taiwan, thank you for colouring Taiwan differently to China.

[melloscott]

"Something inherently suicidal about Europeans!"😂🤣

[peepo]

Narrator: if Britain really wanted to, they could have absolutely destroyed the American rebels
Me: i think he’s British

Edit:never had so many likes 0>o

[echoofthedead]

You forgot about the ship wreck survivers that are in Newfoundland. My family were English horse thieves and were bound for Australia but wrecked off the coast of Newfoundland we ended up here with the Cromwell's (whi assassinated the king) about 450 to 500 years ago

Love the episode tho. Your awesome at what you do!

[malokk]

Judge "in lieu of death you're sentenced to Australia"
Convict "can you reconsider?"

[kf]

“Luckily for Australia, Britain had other plans to colonise the country”
Not lucky at all for the aboriginal people of Australia!

[goodshipkaraboudjan]

My ancestor was transported to Australia (Tasmania) for stealing a horse bridle. He later become a constable!

[XaviRonaldo]

My dad's maternal grandmother's paternal grandfather was a convict. He was sentenced to life transportation at 13 and arrived at the age of 15. I haven't been able to find much more info yet except he lived to about 60 which isn't bad for those days. I know his son (my ancestor) was born in 1844 and lived a long life (88 years).

By the way he was only convicted of pickpocketing. Pretty harsh punishment but it's not like his life in England was great is it.

[pat]

My how ever many great grandfather, was sentenced to 14 years deportation to Australia for stealing a bracelet and a silk handkerchief,
Settled in Australia after his release

[faultedtoast]

The prisoners waited out there sentences doing government work until their sentences were over and they could work for settlers or go back to England.