Australian Convict Sites

Australian Convict Sites

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British Empire established thousands of prisons in Australia. The “Australian Convict Sites” comprise 11 of these colonial penal sites. They are mainly located near Sydney and on the island of Tasmania, but a few are also situated on Norfolk Island and in Fremantle, mostly in fertile coastal areas from which the original inhabitants had been removed.

These prisons held tens of thousands of men, women, and children who were exiled to the Australian colonies by British courts. Each site had its own purpose—some were purely punitive, while others used convict labor to aid in the development of the colonies. The “Australian Convict Sites” represent the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation and of the expansion of European power through the forced migration and labor of prisoners.

Australian Convict Sites

Must-visit reason: Best example of colonial expansion

Continent where the attraction is located: Oceania

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Australia

Province/State where the attraction is located: New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia