Daily meals, health and housing
The convicts mostly ate bread, salted beef, salted pork, oatmeal, butter, cheese, vinegar and barley during their mealtimes at the First Fleet. However, when they had settled onto land, scurvy became a health problem and since they did not have much of a variety of food, they couldn't find the nutrition they needed.
Before the 1790s, Governor Phillip began a new settlement in Parramatta and thirty-two houses were made. The houses were made of wattles, which were plastered with clay and thatched. Wattle and daub houses were very common in the early settlement of Australia.
Before the 1790s, Governor Phillip began a new settlement in Parramatta and thirty-two houses were made. The houses were made of wattles, which were plastered with clay and thatched. Wattle and daub houses were very common in the early settlement of Australia.
Employment and rights/laws
When the convicts have arrived in Australia, they were assigned different jobs based on their skills. Some of these jobs included brick makers, carpenters, nurses, servants, cattlemen, Shepard and farmers. About twenty percent of the convicts were female, and most were sent to work in a textiles factory. By 1821, many convicts were freed and were given land as well as a sum of money. Some of them were even appointed to positions of responsibility and trust.
Many convicts had to work about 14-18 hours a day but later on, they gained the right to become normal citizens and were able to start a new life. Even though there were Aboriginal people living on the land, the British decided that since there were no farms, houses, and towns, the land was theirs for the taking. By the 1850s, males were granted suffrage but females were not granted suffrage until later on.
Many convicts had to work about 14-18 hours a day but later on, they gained the right to become normal citizens and were able to start a new life. Even though there were Aboriginal people living on the land, the British decided that since there were no farms, houses, and towns, the land was theirs for the taking. By the 1850s, males were granted suffrage but females were not granted suffrage until later on.
Language and religion
Most convicts spoke English and were Catholics. The Catholics were mostly Irish and by the 21st century, over 60% of Australians were part of Christianity. At first, it caused many conflicts between the Aboriginals and Europeans since the Aboriginals were quite religious and did not speak English.
Therefore, the Europeans could not communicate with the natives of Australia and later on, they began to teach the Aboriginals about their ways and religion. From the time of the First Fleet to Federation, Christianity was the religion of about 96% of the population.
Therefore, the Europeans could not communicate with the natives of Australia and later on, they began to teach the Aboriginals about their ways and religion. From the time of the First Fleet to Federation, Christianity was the religion of about 96% of the population.
Population and Life expectancy in 1788
The first census is 1788 showed that there were 1030 people in the whole colony. To the right is a picture from Wikipedia showing the population for that time and how many were men, female or children.
The average life expectancy for men and women was about 55-65 years, although some lived longer than that. The average age for marriage back then was actually not very different from nowadays, some married at the age of 22-26 years old. Average families were also not very different, but the number of children in a typical Australian family has dropped compared to now.
The average life expectancy for men and women was about 55-65 years, although some lived longer than that. The average age for marriage back then was actually not very different from nowadays, some married at the age of 22-26 years old. Average families were also not very different, but the number of children in a typical Australian family has dropped compared to now.
Did women work in 1788?
Most convict women were sent to female factories to work in around 1849, where they were required to to chores, needle-work and washing. Those who chose to do extra work had their convict's sentence shortened.
Those who refused to do work were punished, one of the common punishments was the shaving of a woman's head. Conditions in factories were miserable as the female convicts were not given mattresses or blankets to sleep on or use.
Those who refused to do work were punished, one of the common punishments was the shaving of a woman's head. Conditions in factories were miserable as the female convicts were not given mattresses or blankets to sleep on or use.
Photos of typical housing, clothes and transport
Schools
The first school in Australia started in the year 1789, which was run by two convicts, Isabella Rosson and William Richardson. The school taught children simple things like how to read, write and some mathematics skills. By the year 1797, there were six schools run by the church of England.
Girl orphanages offered needlework, spinning, reading and writing education. Later on, a school by the name of Native Institution was opened in 1815, which specialised in teaching Aboriginal children the ways of the European people.
Girl orphanages offered needlework, spinning, reading and writing education. Later on, a school by the name of Native Institution was opened in 1815, which specialised in teaching Aboriginal children the ways of the European people.
Life in general
Life for the convicts back then was harsh. They worked long and tiring hours in order to complete their convict sentence and were not given good conditions to live in. People did not even have to do much to become a convict, most convicts were just minor thieves or unemployed people. School teachers were also more harsher against students, as some students were hit with a belt. The diet of the convicts were not very interesting and were usually a piece of bread and a piece of meat if they worked in a farm. So life is a lot better for convicts, children, women and men nowadays.