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Australias Penal Colonies A Penal Colony is a place to send prisoners away from law abiding people. A penal colony is usually situated on an island or distant colonial territory, and the prisoners are forced into slave-like penal labour. Penal colonies were usually founded by colonial empires, such as Britain and France. A well known penal colony was founded by Great Britain in 1788 and existed in Sydney, Australia.

British Empire The prisoners were transported from Britain to Australia in crowded boats. The British usually shipped Irish and Scottish prisoners to North America as a punishment for their rebellions. Unfortunately after the American Revolution the British were forced to send their convicts to Australian penal colonies. Some of the penal colonies in Australia included New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria.

The Journey All the prisoners sent to Australia at the time were sent on boats. The prisoners below decks were chained up for the entire six month trip. The first voyage killed about ten percent of the convicts. Which was remarkably good later on other trips about a third of the prisoners died.Many convicts that were sent to Australia were then sent to Penal camps.

Living Conditions Many of the prisoners sent to Australia were forced into penal labour, until they lived out their sentence. Those with specialized trades would be set to work on tasks that fit their skills. The convicts were sometimes assigned to colonists who, in turn, would discipline them and feed them in exchange for land. This would help reduce the amount of work the British would have to spend on keeping a leash on the prisoners. If any of the prisoners were to rebel they would be publicly flogged or moved to a stricter colony.

The abolishment of penal labor The forced labor of the convicts of Australia was finally abolished on October 1 1850. The Northern territory of Australia never accepted convicts but did allow ex-convicts to settle down and start a new life. Many people believed that the trip was unjust it was torture and that it should be stopped. With the help of Australia's growing population Forced labor of convicts was finally abolished.