Convict Australia

In this episode, I talk with historian and author Gay Hendriksen about the women who passed through the Parramatta Female Factory and how we can recover and hear their voices through historical records. Gay shares the fascinating stories of several convict women, including Mary Hindle, Elizabeth Browning Owen, Constance Couronne, Mary Ann Hamilton, and Susannah Watson, revealing their resilience,...

In 1829, convicts aboard the brig Cyprus seized their chance at freedom, launching one of the most audacious escapes in Australian history. Led by experienced mariner William Swallow, the mutineers sailed a stolen ship across the Pacific, abandoning soldiers, women, and children on a remote shore. Chased by hunger, betrayal, and the long reach of British law, the fugitives crossed oceans under sto...

In this episode, host Jennifer Twemlow continues her conversation with historian Cathy Dunn, this time turning to the second phase of Norfolk Island’s convict history — the notorious Penal Settlement (1825–1855). Often described as “hell on earth,” this period saw the island transformed into one of the harshest and most feared places of punishment in the British Empire. Cathy shares the stories of...

In this episode, host Jennifer Twemlow speaks with historian Cathy Dunn about the early convict history of Norfolk Island, known as the Colonial Settlement (1788-1814). Cathy shares compelling stories of the island’s early days—of survival, punishment, and resilience in one of the most isolated places in the British Empire. Listeners will hear about the devastating wreck of the Sirius , the harsh...

In January 1859, five convicts escaped from a Fremantle work party and vanished into the bush, launching one of the most dramatic manhunts in Western Australian history. Stealing boats and navigating treacherous coastal waters, they fled north in a desperate bid for freedom. But as the weeks wore on and survival became a struggle, tensions within the group turned deadly. What followed was a brutal...

In February 1821, two convicts, Peter Penney and William White, embark on a daring escape from the Australian colony. Stowing away on the ship Dromedary , they endure a perilous journey across the ocean, hiding in the ship’s hold while struggling with hunger, thirst, and the constant threat of discovery. SOURCES Macquarie, Lachlan. Memoranda & Related Papers. 22December 1808-14 July 1823. Original...

In May 1814, Sydney’s bustling Port Jackson faced terror as the convict ship The Three Bees went up in flames. Loaded with gunpowder and cannons, the burning vessel drifted perilously toward the town, spreading panic and chaos. Discover the explosive story that nearly devastated early Sydney in this unmissable episode! SOURCES 1813-1814 Lloyd's list.  Westmead, Gt. Brit.: Gregg International. 14 O...

In this episode, we dive into one of the darkest chapters of convict transportation to Australia: the voyage of the Neptune , the notorious ship of the Second Fleet. This 1790 journey was marked by unprecedented cruelty, neglect, and tragedy, with the highest death toll in the history of convict transportation. We explore the harsh conditions aboard the Neptune , where over 500 convicts were packe...

In the thrilling second episode of Season 4 of the Convict Australia Podcast , we journey back to 1825 to a stormy night in Tasmania as Matthew Brady and his infamous gang of bushrangers lay siege to the small town of Sorell. As the rain poured and the night deepened, Brady knocked on the door of Robert Bethune’s estate, launching a daring raid that spiralled into a full-scale takeover. Hear the g...

On 21 March 1823, four convict men left Sydney in a 29ft open boat heading for the Five Islands to collect cedar. On the way, they encountered a fierce storm that pushed them out to sea and hundreds of miles north. This is the story of their remarkable fight for survival. LINKS Get your copy of Convict Australia, Extraordinary true stories of shipwrecks, riots, daring escapes and more.  https://ww...

Ralph Entwhistle, a convict with a life sentence, stripped off for a quick dip in the Macquarie River in 1829.  This innocent act got him into a lot of trouble!  Join me as I tell the story of how one little swim on a beautiful spring day led to a high-stakes battle in Bathurst, NSW. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com Sup...

In 1834, ten convicts seized the Frederick and made their daring escape from the penal settlement on Sarah Island in Tasmania to the Port of Valdivia in Chile. The journey took about 7 weeks.  They travelled 6 thousand nautical miles with a skeletal mostly inexperienced crew using a leaky boat.  This is their incredible story. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of...

When word reached England that the colony of NSW was in dire need of food King George III immediately dispatched HMS Guardian to come to their rescue.  The Guardian was packed with everything the First Fleeters desperately needed, but along the way, the 140ft ship ran into trouble.  Join me as I describe its harrowing journey.  LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stor...

In 1828, 14,000 pounds was stolen from the Bank of Australia – that’s about 20 million dollars by today’s standards AND most of the money has never been found! Join me as I retell this incredible story of a group of convicts who tunnelled their way into the bank and pulled off such a huge heist. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com S...

Historian Solomon Stanton shares his research on his ancestor John Matthew Richardson. John was a convict who was sentenced to 7 years transportation and had an incredible life as a gardener and botanical collector for the colony. Solomon describes some of the highlights of John’s life which include his time working in the Sydney Botanic Gardens, his stint on Melville Island, various expeditions b...

The Neva was a three-masted barque carrying hundreds of female convicts and their children from Ireland to Port Jackson.  In 1835 it stuck the Harbinger Reefs near King Island in the treacherous waters of the Bass Strait.  Join me as I recount this tragic story. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia...

What happened when the convicts on Norfolk Island were stripped of their cooking pots? A bloodthirsty riot! Join me as I retell this gruesome true story about Alexander Maconochie’s ‘Mark System’, William Westwood better known as ‘Jackey Jackey the gentleman bushranger’ and his fight to be treated humanely. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-t...

This is the true story of convict First Fleeter, Mary Bryant.  In March 1791 Mary, her husband, their two infant children and 6 other convicts made a daring escape from the fledgling colony of NSW.  In a tiny boat, they managed to make it all the way to Timor. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia a...

Join me as I talk to Matthew Bateman-Graham, a tour guide at Fremantle Prison – a UNESCO World Heritage site for convicts in Western Australia.  Matthew talks about how Fremantle Prison came to be, the types of convicts that were sent over, their skills and routine.  Plus, he discusses some of the extraordinary escapees such as Moondyne Joe and much more. LINKS Fremantle Prison https://f...

Join me as I talk to Tammy Reardon about the Isle of the Dead – the final resting place for convicts who died at Port Arthur. Tammy has been conducting tours at the Isle of the Dead and Port Arthur Historic Site for over 15 years. She shares with us stories about the Island, convicts and free settlers associated with the site such as Henry Savery, the Staveley family and the last gravedigger, Mark...

In 1787 the First Fleet began the epic journey to Australia with about 1500 hungry mouths to feed but only two years supply of food.  This episode talks about the First Fleeters struggle to survive with depleting food stores, poor soil to grow crops and limited availability to wild foods. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com Sup...

In 1832, en route to Norfolk Island, Knatchbull and his convict mates plot their cunning escape. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia and receive goodies such as the Convict Australia Newsletter: https://www.patreon.com/ConvictAustralia Join the conversation on our Facebook & Instagram pages: https://www...

Reverend Samuel Marsden arrived in NSW in 1794 as the new chaplain but was quickly appointed as a magistrate. Marsden detested sin and sought to rid the colony of it. He became known as the 'Flogging Parson' for handing out severe punishments, but he also did a lot of good in the colony.  For example, he actively tried to improve conditions for female convicts at the Parramatta Female Factory...

George III left Woolwich, England in December 1834 transporting 220 male convicts. The voyage was an eventful one - a fire broke loose, scurvy was rife and one day out from reaching Tasmania, the ship was wrecked when it ran into an unchartered rock. LINKS Grab a copy of Convict Sydney, the real-life stories of 32 prisoners : www.jennifer-twemlow.com Support Convict Australia and receive goodies s...

Join me as I chat with Janice Ruse Huntington about her ancestor, James Ruse.  James was a Cornish convict who was transported to Australia with the First Fleet.  He claimed to be the first European from the First Fleet to set foot on Australian soil. He also became the first ex-convict to receive a land grant from Governor Phillip and quickly turned his Experiment Farm into a success, p...